电子扫描阵列(ESAS)提供了可命令的、灵活的高增益波束的能力，这对于诸如雷达、天气监视和成像的应用是有利的。与需要用于操纵阵列波束的万向架的反射器天线相比，ESAS在空间中电子地扫描阵列波束而没有阵列的物理移动。与反射器的毫秒相比，用ESA扫描光束可以在微秒量级上执行。这使得除了灵活性之外，还能够增加扫描速率，以命令阵列束在空间中的位置用于定制的操作模式。(Electronically scanned arrays provide the capability of commandable,agile,high-gain beams,which is advantageous for applications such as radar,weather surveillance,and imaging.In　contrast to reflector antennas,which require a gimbal for steering the array beam,ESAs electronically scan the array beam in space without physical movement of the array.Scanning the beam with an ESA can be performed on the order of microseconds as opposed to milliseconds for a reflector.)