A free-space optical communication system includes an optical phased array (OPA) photonic integrated chip, a transceiver photonic integrated chip, and one or more processors. The OPA chip includes a plurality of array elements and a plurality of phase shifters. The transceiver chip includes one or more transmitter components and one or more receiver components. The one or more processors are configured to transmit a first signal via the OPA chip and the transceiver chip, and receive a second signal via the OPA chip and the transceiver chip.