A photonic beamforming system for a phased array antenna with N antenna elements which comprises: • means for generating a first and a second optical carrier, wherein the first and second optical carriers have different frequencies; • means for optically processing N signals from N antenna elements, which comprise: ∘ an array of N electro-optic modulators, each having as input a copy of the first optical carrier and being driven by the RF signal generated by one of the N antenna elements; ∘ an array of N tunable optical delay lines (TODL), each having as input the output signal of one of the N electro-optic modulators, wherein each TODL has a periodic frequency response; ∘ an array of optical combiners having as input the output signals of the array of N TODL, and producing at least one output signal; • means for converting at least one output signal from said means for optically processing the N signals from the N antenna elements to an electrical output signal, which comprise: ∘ an array of coherent receivers, each having as a first input one of the output signals of the array of optical combiners, and, as a second input a copy of the second optical carrier, which serves as an optical local oscillator; • an array of electrical combiners having as input the output signals of the array of coherent receivers, and producing at least one output signal which is the electrical output signal of the photonic beamforming system. • means for generating a first and a second optical carrier, wherein the first and second optical carriers have different frequencies; • means for optically processing N signals from N antenna elements, which comprise: ∘ an array of N electro-optic modulators, each having as input a copy of the first optical carrier and being driven by the RF signal generated by one of the N antenna elements; ∘ an array of N tunable optical delay lines (TODL), each having as input the output signal of one of the N electro-optic modulators, wherein each TODL has a periodic frequency response; ∘ an array of optical combiners having as input the output signals of the array of N TODL, and producing at least one output signal; ∘ an array of N electro-optic modulators, each having as input a copy of the first optical carrier and being driven by the RF signal generated by one of the N antenna elements; ∘ an array of N tunable optical delay lines (TODL), each having as input the output signal of one of the N electro-optic modulators, wherein each TODL has a periodic frequency response; ∘ an array of optical combiners having as input the output signals of the array of N TODL, and producing at least one output signal; • means for converting at least one output signal from said means for optically processing the N signals from the N antenna elements to an electrical output signal, which comprise: ∘ an array of coherent receivers, each having as a first input one of the output signals of the array of optical combiners, and, as a second input a copy of the second optical carrier, which serves as an optical local oscillator; ∘ an array of coherent receivers, each having as a first input one of the output signals of the array of optical combiners, and, as a second input a copy of the second optical carrier, which serves as an optical local oscillator; • an array of electrical combiners having as input the output signals of the array of coherent receivers, and producing at least one output signal which is the electrical output signal of the photonic beamforming system.