Phased array antenna apparatus and method

A phased array antenna apparatus for operation in frequencies above six gigahertz, the phased array antenna apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of sub-arrays together configured to form a phased array antenna, each sub-array comprising at least four antenna elements, an input configured to receive an input signal, and a plurality of respective sub-array circuits between the input and an antenna of the respective antenna element, the antenna for transmission of the input signal, each sub-array circuit comprising:
• a signal modification component configured to adjust a phase of the input signal during propagation to the antenna;
• and
• an attenuator to attenuate the input signal during propagation to the antenna, such that fine tuning of an amplitude tapering of the sub-array is provided;
• and
• a plurality of power amplifiers, wherein the sub-array circuits of each sub-array are connected to a one of the plurality of power amplifiers via the input,
• wherein each sub-array is arranged to be provided with an amplified input signal at the input as the input signal to the input,
• wherein each power amplifier is configured to receive a phased array input signal for amplification and to output the respective amplified input signal to the plurality of sub-array circuits of the respective sub-array connected to the power amplifier,
• wherein a first power amplifier of the plurality of power amplifiers, providing the amplified input signal to the input of a central sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays in the phased array antenna apparatus is configured to amplify the phased array input signal to a greater power than a second power amplifier of the plurality of power amplifiers, providing the amplified input signal to the input of a peripheral sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays in the phased array antenna apparatus, such that a majority of the amplitude tapering is provided by the power amplifiers providing different amplitudes for the sub-arrays.