Rantec Microwave Systems - Waveguide, Slot, Planar, and Flat Plate Antennas

Founded in 1957 to develop waveguide, slot, planar, and flat plate antennas for military and commercial use, Rantec / Microwave Design and Manufacturing (mdm) and The Microwave Specialty Co. merged in 2000 to form Rantec Microwave Systems.

Rantec is a major designer and manufacturer of slot array, flat plate, waveguide, and planar antennas, as well as Cassegrain and parabolic reflectors, feeds, and subsystems. These are utilized throughout the world for defense applications, such as radar, missile guidance, navigation, satellite communications and space.

A leader in the antenna industry for 50 years, the Rantec Microwave Systems name has been synonymous with innovative design, high quality and high reliability. Our personnel have the experience, skills and equipment necessary to design and manufacture products that can meet even the most stringent environmental requirements. Our history, design and quality ensure faster, better and cost-effective products.

SLOT ARRAYS OR FLATPLATE ANTENNAS

Rantec’s waveguide slot arrays (flatplate) antennas are widely used in applications such as the PAC-3 missile and satellites, and are key components in defense and communication systems.

Rantec’s long history spans five decades of unique designs, ranging from our 24ft J-Stars antenna, where the array flatness is held at .030 maximum, to the R&D and subsequent manufacture of our unique multi-mode fire control radar antenna, MMRS Array (four antennas in one).

Our slot array antennas are at the heart of the Grifo-L, Grifo-BR, Grifo-PG, mobile PAR, Gripen radar systems and Phalanx weapon systems, which currently protect US and NATO ships during close-in combat. Rantec also designed, and currently manufactures, seeker and side antennas for ESSM, PAC-3, standard missiles and GEM.

KU MOBILE SATELLITE ANTENNA SUBSYSTEM TX / RX ANTENNA

Utilizing cutting-edge, reflector-feed technology, Rantec offers its new Ku-band Mobile Satellite Antenna Subsystem (MSAS), which provides for Satcom-on-the-Move (SOTM) as both an 11.5in and an 18in reflector. A Ka-band solution is also available.

PRECISION APPROACH RADAR ANTENNAS

Rantec’s X-band antennas, for state-of-the-art mobile and ground-controlled precision approach radars, consist of either a reflector or a slot array antenna. X-band antennas are designed to provide efficient and accurate tracking of over 32 targets, controlling up to eight runways with a field-of-view of 10º in elevation, and an azimuth coverage of ±15º.

X-band antennas provide the most stringent of azimuth and elevation resolutions, and high azimuth and elevation accuracy.

SPACE-QUALIFIED ARRAYS

Rantec has been delivering space-qualified slot arrays since 1981 for such programs as:

• Motorola’s Iridium satellite constellation
• TDRSS
• Morelos
• CSAT
• GBS
• ASTRA
• HS 601 HP satellites for Boeing Satellite Systems (formerly Hughes Space and Communication)

Rantec recently delivered slot arrays with polarizers to General Dynamics for the GLAST and LEO programs. Since 1997, Rantec has been a major subcontractor to the Boeing Company on the GPS IIF program, providing antenna electrical design, support, manufacturing and assembly, including the satellite antenna platforms.

MANUFACTURING FACILITIES

Our manufacturing facility in Calabasas occupies over 23,000ft², and is equipped with the necessary machinery to effect the fabrication, assembly and test of state-of-the-art microwave antennas.

CNC machining centers are maintained in-house; the largest are capable of handling 60in by 30in parts. Manual milling machines and lathes complete Rantec's range of metal fabrication equipment.