A method of suppressing grating lobes generated in a radiating pattern of
a phased array antenna, and a patch antenna element for use in the phased
array antenna are described. The phased array antenna is formed from a
plurality of symmetrical patch antenna elements spaced apart at a
predetermined distance from each other. Each patch antenna element is
configured for producing an asymmetrical radiation pattern. The antenna
element includes a conductive ground plane, a radiating patch backed by a
cavity and arranged in cavity aperture, and a feed arrangement. The patch
antenna element is configured such that a dimension of the radiating
patch along the E-plane of the antenna element is less than the dimension
of the cavity aperture by a first predetermined value selected to provide
an asymmetrical radiation pattern of the patch antenna element. To
provide a required degree of the asymmetry of said radiation pattern, a
dimension of the radiating patch along the H-plane should be less than
the dimension of the cavity aperture along said H-plane by a second
predetermined value.