An
active electronically scanned array (AESA), also known as
active phased array radar (APAR), is a type of
phased array radar whose
transmitter and
receiver (
transceiver) functions are composed of numerous small solid-state transmit/receive modules (TRMs). AESA radars
aim their "beam" by emitting separate
radio waves from each module that interfere constructively at certain angles in front of the antenna. Advanced AESA radars can improve on the older
passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars by spreading their signal emissions out across a band of frequencies, which makes it very difficult to detect over
background noise, allowing ships and aircraft to broadcast powerful radar signals while still remaining stealthy.