Abstract: An electronically steered phased array antenna system. The system includes phased array radar antenna having a microwave phased shifter for inserting a predetermined amount of path delay into each of the radiated elements of the antenna. It also includes a beam steering controller connected to the microwave phase shifter which is adapted to control the phase shifter according to predetermined parameters relating to the antenna to maximize its performance. An electronically erasable programmable read only memory device is disposed on the antenna itself for storing the predetermined parameters relating to the antenna. The memory device is connected to the controller and by inputting its data into the memory of the controller converts the controller from a generic device to a dedicated controller for the antenna in question. The memory device can be reprogrammed without removing it from the antenna for changes in the antenna configuration data.