A multi-mode phased array antenna, MPAA, configured to have at least two modes of operation, wherein a first mode of operation produces a first radiation pattern having a main-beam and wherein a second mode of operation produces a second radiation pattern having a second beam, the MPAA comprising: a plurality of radiating elements positioned about a center point in a linear array, a rectangular array, or a planar array with a triangular lattice, and a controller in signal communication with each of the plurality of radiating elements, wherein the controller is configured to switch between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to excite the plurality of radiating elements to produce: the first radiation pattern having the main-beam in the first mode of operation, wherein the main-beam is substantially symmetric about a radiation axis oriented through the center point, and wherein the main-beam is directed substantially in a first direction along the radiation axis, and the second radiation pattern having the second beam in the second mode of operation, wherein the second beam is wider than the main-beam and is directed substantially in a radial direction from the center point, and wherein the second beam defines a substantially cardioid or spherical shaped pattern symmetric about the radiation axis when represented using a polar plot, wherein the controller is configured to excite the plurality of radiating elements by determining a plurality of excitation signals for the plurality of radiating elements, and wherein the plurality of excitation signals are determined based on a truncated regular series expansion of Bessel functions for an electromagnetic, EM, field. a plurality of radiating elements positioned about a center point in a linear array, a rectangular array, or a planar array with a triangular lattice, and a controller in signal communication with each of the plurality of radiating elements, wherein the controller is configured to switch between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, and wherein the controller is configured to excite the plurality of radiating elements to produce: the first radiation pattern having the main-beam in the first mode of operation, wherein the main-beam is substantially symmetric about a radiation axis oriented through the center point, and wherein the main-beam is directed substantially in a first direction along the radiation axis, and the second radiation pattern having the second beam in the second mode of operation, wherein the second beam is wider than the main-beam and is directed substantially in a radial direction from the center point, and wherein the second beam defines a substantially cardioid or spherical shaped pattern symmetric about the radiation axis when represented using a polar plot, wherein the controller is configured to excite the plurality of radiating elements by determining a plurality of excitation signals for the plurality of radiating elements, and wherein the plurality of excitation signals are determined based on a truncated regular series expansion of Bessel functions for an electromagnetic, EM, field. the first radiation pattern having the main-beam in the first mode of operation, wherein the main-beam is substantially symmetric about a radiation axis oriented through the center point, and wherein the main-beam is directed substantially in a first direction along the radiation axis, and the second radiation pattern having the second beam in the second mode of operation, wherein the second beam is wider than the main-beam and is directed substantially in a radial direction from the center point, and wherein the second beam defines a substantially cardioid or spherical shaped pattern symmetric about the radiation axis when represented using a polar plot, wherein the controller is configured to excite the plurality of radiating elements by determining a plurality of excitation signals for the plurality of radiating elements, and wherein the plurality of excitation signals are determined based on a truncated regular series expansion of Bessel functions for an electromagnetic, EM, field.