Reflector antenna system including a phased array antenna operable in multiple modes and related methods

A reflector antenna system comprising:

• at least one antenna reflector having an arcuate shape and defining an antenna beam;
• a feed device spaced apart from said at least one antenna reflector;
• a transceiver connected to said feed device;
• and
• a phased array antenna positioned in the antenna beam between said at least one antenna reflector and said feed device, said phased array antenna comprising
• a substrate,
• a plurality of back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements carried by said substrate and configured for defining at least one feed-through zone for the antenna beam, and
• a plurality of back-to-back pairs of second antenna elements carried by said substrate and defining at least one active beamsteering zone for the antenna beam.

A method for using a phased array antenna comprising a substrate, a plurality of back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements carried by the substrate, a plurality of back-to-back pairs of second antenna elements carried by the substrate, the method comprising:

• positioning the phased array antenna between at least one antenna reflector having an arcuate shape and a feed device, and in an antenna beam defined by the at least one antenna reflector;
• configuring the back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements to define at least one feed-through zone for the antenna beam;
• and
• configuring the back-to-back pairs of second antenna elements to define at least one active beamsteering zone for the antenna beam.