System and method for active electronically scanned array test and calibration

A test system for validating and calibrating an active electronically scanned array (AESA) having a plurality of distinct transceiver elements with associated RF channels, the test system comprising:

• a static mount configured to fixedly receive the AESA;
• at least one test probe fixedly located relative to the static mount and configured to transmit and receive complex radiation patterns to and from the AESA;
• an RF measurement device communicatively coupled to the AESA and the at least one test probe, and configured to transmit and receive complex RF amplitudes and phases and/or time delays of the test probe and the AESA;
• and
• a test processor communicatively connected to the RF measurement device, and configured to:
• predict free space path losses and propagation delays between the AESA and the at the at least one probe based on radiation patterns of each and corresponding vectors defining known relative positions of the at least one test probe and each of the plurality of distinct transceiver elements;
• estimate far field (FF) patterns of the AESA based on post-processing of the amplitudes and phases and/or time delays received via the RF measurement device, compensating for the predicted free space path losses and propagation delays;
• calculate FF figures of merit (FoMs) for the AESA as a function of frequency, beam scan, and environmentals, based on the estimated FF patterns of the AESA;
• and
• validate the AESA based on the FF FoMs.