Methods for generating weights for the antenna elements (110) in an AESA antenna (100). In one embodiment, transmitting weights are selected to have unit amplitude and quadratic phase, and receiving weights are selected to provide a two-way antenna pattern which is uniform over a useful portion (300) of the main lobe, and decreases rapidly outside of the uniform portion. In another embodiment the transmitting weights have unit amplitude over a central portion of the array and the receiving weights are selected to provide a two-way antenna pattern which is uniform over a useful portion (300) of the main lobe.
