Rantec Microwave Systems - Microwave Antennas and Components

Founded in 1957, Rantec Microwave Systems provides the military and commercial markets with a wide variety of microwave antennas and components. Rantec specializes in the design and manufacture of waveguide slot array and reflector-feed antennas for land, air, sea and space applications.

Possessing full in-house capability, Rantec produces antennas for use in prime radar systems, missile guidance, navigation, weather detection, SIGINT, satellite communications and other applications. Rantec designs and manufactures reflector-feed and waveguide slot array antennas in both mechanically- or electrically-scanned configurations.

Rantec's manufacturing plant, located in Calabasas, California, houses a full, state-of-the-art machine shop, dip braze/heat treating, electro-mechanical assembly and testing facilities. We have various RF indoor and outdoor test ranges, including a compact range with a three foot quiet zone, and other RF test capabilities. Rantec is extremely versatile in that we manufacture small, one- or two-piece orders, to large-scale production orders of 1000+ units.

SLOTTED ARRAY ANTENNAS

Rantec's AK-10044 slotted array antenna is a highly efficient, low profile antenna designed for operation at millimeter wavelengths. The antenna features moderately low-peak sidelobe levels and very low RMS sidelobe levels.

The four-quadrant input configuration permits single- or dual-plane monopulse operation when interfaced with the appropriate comparator. The mechanical structure consists of precision-machined aluminum component parts that are dip brazed into a rugged, lightweight assembly.

The AK – 10044 slotted array antenna features:

• High efficiency
• Low peak and RMS sidelobes
• Monopulse compatibility
• Low profile

SPACE-QUALIFIED ARRAYS

Rantec recently delivered space-qualified 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.

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.

KU MOBILE SATELLITE ANTENNA SYSTEM 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.

DIP BRAZING

Rantec is exceptionally adept and proficient with the salt bath dip brazing method for the process of joining precise aluminum alloy components. We take pride in maintaining the tight process controls necessary to ensure that intricate and delicate microwave antenna assemblies requiring dip brazing are manufactured to specification. The requirements of AWS C3.7, formerly Mil-B-7883, are met at Rantec and quality programs are maintained to ensure consistent and reliable service performance.

Rantec's brazing facilities include a 48in x 48in x 40in braze tank, dual preheat ovens, aging ovens and a humidity chamber. A wet lab area contains all chemical process activities, which include anti-corrosion chem. film applications appropriate to aluminum dip brazed assemblies.