Rapid-deployment hemispherical active electronically scanned array (AESA) for mobile satellite communication (satcom) operations

A satellite communications (satcom) terminal apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of active electronically scanned array (AESA) panels collectively having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, each AESA panel including one or more AESA elements, the plurality of AESA panels operatively coupled to an array controller and comprising:
• a plurality of N side panels, where N is an integer not less than two, each side panel slidably attached to a flat surface at a bottom edge;
• and
• an apex panel having an N-sided polygonal shape, each side panel pivotably attached to the apex panel at a top edge opposite the bottom edge;
• wherein the stowed configuration corresponds to an arrangement of the plurality of AESA panels coplanar with the flat surface;
• wherein the deployed configuration corresponds to an arrangement of the plurality of AESA panels in a truncated pyramid wherein each side panel is inclined at a slant angle to the flat surface;
• wherein the plurality of AESA panels is collectively configured, when in the stowed configuration, for steerable transmission and reception, of electromagnetic (EM) energy associated with at least one array attribute selected from a group including a target frequency, a target frequency band, and a target polarization;
• wherein each of the plurality of AESA panels is individually configured, when in the deployed configuration, for electronically steerable transmission and reception of EM energy associated with the at least one array attribute;
• and
• wherein the array controller is configured for selection and adjustment of the at least one array attribute.