Advanced beam forming network software for array-fed contoured beam spacecraft antennas

The paper presents a new software for the accurate analysis and optimization of integrated beam forming networks (BFNs) for array-fed shaped beam spacecraft antennas. Typical applications of such BFNs are Intelsat Hemi/Zone C-band reflector antennas. The paper explains the main features of the software and describes the benefits it yields in the design process of such antennas. (Author)