In accordance with one embodiment of the invention received energy from selected subapertures of an energy transmission and reception system is spatial modulated with respect to an image plane stop structure so as to produce at the output of a detector disposed behind an aperture of the image plane stop structure, modulation components indicative of the relative phase relationship associated with each subaperture receiving path. The modulation components are applied to control variable phase shifters, in common transmission and reception paths of the selected subaperture channels, in such a manner that the optical intensity of the image field transmitted through the stop structure is maximized - that is the received image is centered on the stop aperture and the image spread is reduced to the minimum. The transmitted energy, which is applied through the phase shifters adjusted with respect to the phase relationship sensed from the received signals, is thereby correctly phased to cause maximum energy to be applied to the target.
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