Name

Custom Microwave

Legal name

Nevada Heat Treating LLC dba Vitesse Systems

Website

https://custommicrowave.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RF and Microwave Antenna Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)

Keywords

• RF antenna systems
• Thermal management hardware
• Power distribution assemblies
• Defense electronics manufacturing
• Metal additive manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Longmont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Defense Hardware Manufacturing: Design, build, and test services for mission-critical RF antenna systems, thermal management solutions, and power distribution hardware for defense and aerospace programs. Revenue generated through long-term defense contracts with prime contractors and direct government programs. Typical program lifecycle from early-stage engineering through full-rate production.
2. Space Systems: Satellite antenna and RF payload solutions for commercial and government space programs including weather radar satellites, communications satellites, and deep space exploration

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Custom Microwave (CMi) operates as the Longmont, Colorado location of Vitesse Systems and designs, builds, and tests RF and microwave antenna systems for defense and space programs. Its current product set also includes thermal management hardware and power distribution assemblies, with manufacturing spanning precision machining, brazing, additive manufacturing, and testing from early-stage engineering through full-rate production.

Product overview

Custom Microwave (CMi), now part of Vitesse Systems, operates as a vertically integrated provider of RF and microwave antenna systems, thermal management solutions, and power distribution hardware for defense, aerospace, and space programs. The product portfolio centers on three core technology areas: custom antenna solutions spanning space-qualified satellite antennas, phased array architectures, multi-band feed networks, and RF components; thermal management systems including liquid cold plates, PCM heatsinks, heat exchangers, and integrated cooling solutions; and power distribution hardware featuring laminated and single-conductor busbars and power distribution assemblies. The company also offers additive manufacturing capabilities for complex antenna hardware. Products serve applications across C5ISR, radar, electronic warfare, missile defense, and satellite communications spanning air, ground, sea, and space domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C5ISR: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance antenna and RF solutions
• Radar & Electronic Warfare
• Missile & Strategic Defense
• Liquid Cold Plates
• Laminated Bus Bar
• Products Support Inc OEM Products

Products and services

• Laminated Bus Bar Custom laminated multi-conductor busbar for defense and aerospace platforms that provides consistent, reliable power across high-demand applications while minimizing resistance, controlling EMI, and supporting an integrated system-level power architecture.
• Single-Conductor Busbar Single-conductor power-distribution busbar for missile and flight-vehicle applications and for strategic-defense ground-support and launch systems.
• Power Distribution Enclosures and Assemblies Custom power-distribution hardware for mission-critical platforms that provides stable, efficient power delivery across complex defense and aerospace systems.
• Liquid Cold Plates Engineered cooling systems that maintain stable operating temperatures, improve reliability, and support consistent performance in high-density and high-power electronics used in demanding environments.
• Liquid Cooled Chassis Liquid-cooling assemblies for high-power missile electronics and defense systems that require thermal management in confined spaces.
• Heat Exchangers Thermal-management solutions for dissipating heat from high-speed data-processing systems and RF components.
• PCM Heatsinks (Phase Change Material) Phase-change-material heatsinks, also known as thermal capacitors, that rapidly absorb and dissipate heat during high-power operations and provide passive thermal management for missile sensor systems.
• Integrated Thermal Management Systems Combined cooling and electronics solutions integrated into optimized units to improve performance, reliability, and system efficiency in defense applications.
• RF and Microwave Antenna Systems Custom antenna solutions for defense and space applications that support reliable signal transmission, data flow, and mission-critical communications across complex environments.
• Multi-Band Feed Networks Feed-network solutions supporting multiple frequency bands for satellite-communications and radar applications.
• Horn Antennas High-performance horn antennas for satellite, radar, and defense-communications applications, including the Broadband Horn Antenna released in January 2025 with 18-55 GHz coverage from a single aperture.
• Phased Array Antennas Phased-array antenna systems for defense applications that support diverse mission and performance requirements.
• Reflector Antennas Precision reflector-antenna systems for space and ground applications requiring high-gain communications.
• RF Components (Feeds, Horns, Waveguides) Feeds, horns, waveguides, flex guides, filters, and variable attenuators engineered for performance, durability, and reliability in defense and aerospace systems.
• L Band Antenna Arrays Modular SWaP-C-optimized L Band antenna arrays for Space Development Agency transport-layer programs, supporting warfighter tactical data links.
• Conformal Antennas for Missiles Conformal antennas integrated with flight-vehicle structure and radome for missile guidance, telemetry, and GPS applications.
• Omni Antennas for Missiles Omni antennas for missile telemetry and range-safety applications.
• Aerial Refueling Test Equipment OEM aerial-refueling and ground-support equipment for defense aviation programs, including test kits and external fuel-tank certifiers.
• Ground Support Equipment Platform-integrated refueling-support systems for defense aviation programs that support aerial-refueling system verification, external fuel-tank certification, and mission-readiness checks.
• Additively Manufactured Satellite Antenna for Weather Radars Additively manufactured passive satellite antenna for weather-radar spacecraft, designed and tested for integration into the Tomorrow-R1 and Tomorrow-R2 satellites.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80+ L Band arrays delivered in 24 months for SDA programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Tomorrow.iocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Tomorrow.io on weather radar satellite program. Vitesse designed and delivered additively manufactured antenna for Tomorrow-R1 and Tomorrow-R2 satellites, the world's first commercially built weather radar satellites launched in 2023.
• Moorehead State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Moorehead State University as part of NASA's Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) program, working with academic institutions, UARCs, FFRDCs, and commercial partners to provide ground station antenna feed solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• CesiumAstro: Supplies multi-beam active antennas and communications payloads for LEO constellations and defense platforms. Comparable as a NewSpace-focused antenna/communications subsystem supplier competing for similar program dollars.
• Kymeta: Developer of flat-panel satellite antennas for mobile defense and commercial applications. Comparable as an emerging specialist in next-generation SATCOM antenna form factors.

Direct peers

• ThinKom Solutions: Specializes in satellite antenna systems (mechanically and phased array) for defense, aero, and ground-mobile SATCOM. Comparable as a specialty antenna house serving government and commercial space.
• Crane Aerospace & Electronics: Supplies RF/microwave components, power distribution, and electronic subsystems to defense and aerospace OEMs. Comparable mid-sized specialty supplier with overlapping product categories in RF and power.
• Communications & Power Industries (CPI): Manufactures RF/microwave components, satellite communications antennas, and electronic warfare subsystems for defense and space customers. Directly comparable as a sub-scale specialty RF/antenna supplier serving the same primes and government programs.
• CAES (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions): Supplies RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave components and subsystems to defense primes including antennas and integrated assemblies. Closely comparable in defense RF content and prime-customer base.
• Smiths Interconnect: Designs and manufactures RF/microwave components, waveguide assemblies, and connectors for defense, aerospace, and space. Closely comparable in passive RF and waveguide content for satellite and radar programs.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Aerospace: Diversified aerospace supplier with RF, antenna, and SATCOM offerings across avionics and connectivity. Comparable as a large incumbent that competes and partners in the same aerospace/defense RF space.
• RTX (Raytheon): Defense prime with broad radar, EW, missile defense, and space portfolios that source and also internally produce RF and antenna subsystems. Comparable as both potential customer and competitor for RF/antenna content.
• L3Harris Technologies: Large defense prime with extensive RF, antenna, EW, and space communications portfolios. Comparable as a customer and adjacent competitor for C5ISR, radar/EW, and SATCOM antenna content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vitessesystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/79316732
• Xx.com/custommicrowave

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Custom Microwave