Method and apparatus for mitigating array antenna performance degradation caused by element failure

An array antenna system comprising:

• a plurality of antenna elements arranged in fixed relation to one another;
• a controller for activating a predetermined number of antenna elements within said plurality of antenna elements to generate an antenna beam for use in performing signal transfer functions with an exterior environment, said predetermined number being less than a total number of elements in said plurality of antenna elements;
• a monitor for monitoring active antenna elements within said plurality of antenna elements to determine when an element failure has occurred;
• and
• means for activating a previously inactive antenna element within said plurality of antenna elements for use in generating said antenna beam in response to detection of an element failure by said monitor.

An array antenna system comprising:

• a plurality of antenna elements having a total number of elements that is greater than a number required to achieve a desired level of antenna performance;
• a plurality of solid state modules, each of said plurality of solid state modules being coupled to at least one of said plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• a controller for controlling operation of said array antenna system, said controller including means for individually activating and deactivating each of said plurality of solid state modules, said controller maintaining only a subset of said plurality of solid state modules in an active condition during operation of said array antenna system, said subset of said plurality of solid state modules including a predetermined quantity of solid state modules that is less than a total quantity of solid state modules in the plurality of solid state modules, said controller including means for automatically activating an inactive solid state module in said plurality of solid state modules when an active solid state module indicates that a failure has occurred.