Radiometer Physics GmbH

Name

Radiometer Physics GmbH

Legal name

RPG Radiometer physics GmbH

Website

https://radiometer-physics.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microwave and THz Instrumentation

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663)

akta.pro primary industry

RF Front-End Modules (FEMs) & Integrated RF Modules (HDAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microwave & RF Signal Chain ICs (Mixers/Detectors/Attenuators) (HDAHAMAL), Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH)

Keywords

• Microwave remote sensing
• Millimeter wave components
• Terahertz instrumentation
• Satellite receiver systems
• Atmospheric radiometry

Headquarters

HQ city

Meckenheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: RPG generates revenue primarily through the sale of specialized microwave and THz instruments and components, including radiometers, cloud radars, scintillometers, frequency multipliers, amplifiers, and passive waveguide components.
2. Custom System Solutions: Revenue from customized solutions in fields including plasma diagnostics, spectroscopy, radio astronomy, and imaging.
3. Space Systems and Programs: Revenue from space-qualified receivers and frontends for satellite missions including MetOp, ODIN, Herschel, and JUICE.
4. Technical Support and Service: Dedicated technical support services for microwave remote sensing instruments and mmWave products, including software updates and remote diagnostics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

RPG designs, manufactures, and integrates specialized microwave, millimeter wave, sub-millimeter, and THz instrumentation and components covering frequencies from 1.4 GHz to 2 THz. Its product portfolio spans microwave radiometers (HATPRO), FMCW cloud radars (35/94 GHz), microwave scintillometers, mmWave/THz frequency extender modules for vector network analyzers and spectrum analyzers, and space-qualified receivers for satellite weather and astronomy missions. The company sells standard products as well as customized mmWave solutions for applications in plasma diagnostics, spectroscopy, radio astronomy, and imaging.

Product overview

RPG Radiometer Physics GmbH is a Rohde & Schwarz company specializing in microwave, millimeter wave (mmWave), sub-mm, and THz instrumentation and components. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) Microwave Remote Sensing Instruments including HATPRO radiometers, FMCW Doppler Cloud Radars (35/94 GHz), and RPG-MWSC-160 scintillometers for atmospheric and meteorological applications; (2) mmWave and Terahertz Products including Vector Network Analyzer extenders, Signal Generator extenders, Spectrum Analyzer extenders, XFFTS spectrometers, mixers, frequency multipliers, amplifiers, and passive waveguide components operating from several GHz to 2 THz; and (3) Space Products including space-qualified receivers and frontends for satellite missions like MetOp and Herschel. The company offers both standard products and customized solutions for scientific, commercial, and military applications, with in-house manufacturing capabilities including a high-precision mechanical workshop with CNC machining, surface finishing (gold plating, copper electroforming), and metrology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HATPRO Humidity and Temperature Profiler Microwave radiometer for continuous atmospheric temperature and humidity profiling, used by meteorological services and atmospheric research institutes for ground-based boundary-layer and tropospheric observation.
• FMCW Doppler Cloud Radar Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave radar operating at 35 GHz and 94 GHz for observation of clouds and precipitation. Provides high-resolution range profiles with Doppler and polarimetric capabilities for particle classification and hydrometeor characterization, used by meteorological services and atmospheric research groups.
• RPG-MWSC-160 Microwave Scintillometer Commercially available microwave scintillometer designed for combined operation with optical Large Aperture Scintillometers to measure sensible and latent heat fluxes over long paths. Available in G1 and G2 generations, used by atmospheric research groups for surface energy flux studies.
• Vector Network Analyzer Extenders Extension modules that extend vector network analyzer capabilities into the mmWave and THz frequency range, used for antenna measurements, anechoic chamber testing, and imaging applications at frequencies up to 1100 GHz.
• Signal Generator Extenders Extension modules for signal generators enabling high-frequency signal generation in the mmWave and THz frequency range for test and measurement of components and systems.
• Spectrum Analyzer Extenders Extension modules for spectrum analyzers enabling analysis capabilities in the mmWave and THz frequency range for high-frequency spectral measurements and signal analysis.
• XFFTS Spectrometer Fast Fourier Transform Spectrometers with bandwidths up to 2.5 GHz, developed and licensed in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), used in radio astronomy and high-resolution spectroscopy applications.
• Waveguide Faraday Isolators Fullband Faraday isolators covering 50 to 220 GHz frequency range, using ferrite devices with bandwidths covering full waveguide bands, used as passive components in mmWave and THz systems.
• Custom mmWave Solutions Customized mm-wave and THz system development for special customer needs in plasma diagnostics, spectroscopy, radio astronomy, and imaging applications, leveraging RPG's design, characterization, and integration capabilities.
• Space Products (Space-Qualified Receivers and Frontends) Space-qualified receivers and frontends for weather observation and space applications, including heterodyne and direct detection receivers covering 57 GHz into the THz regime. Includes the Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) frontend for MetOp Second Generation satellites operating at 183 to 664 GHz and the 325 GHz receiver for the Arctic Weather Satellite.

Quantifiable outcome

• Noise temperatures between 600 K (at 183 GHz) and 2300 K (at 664 GHz) for Ice Cloud Imager receivers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MPIfR (Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy)coreTechnology or IntegrationRPG licensed and commercializes Fast Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FFTS) up to 2.5 GHz bandwidth developed by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. Dr. Peter Zimmermann brought over 20 years of research experience from MPIfR when founding RPG in 1991.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPG participates in ESA space programs including the Schottky diode space qualification program and technology development for Europe's next generation meteorology satellite, the METOP Second Generation instrument. Also involved in ICI for MetOp and Arctic Weather Satellite programs.
• JPL/NASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Peter Zimmermann contributed to the first Microwave Limb Sounder project at JPL/NASA before founding RPG. The company later participated in the MLS/UARS Microwave Limb Sounder program.
• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPG provided SMILES/KIBO Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder for JAXA's Japanese experiment module on the International Space Station.
• CNES/ISROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPG participated in the MEGHA-TROPIQUES satellite program providing SAPHIR+MADRAS microwave humidity sounder components for CNES (France) and ISRO (India).
• Airbus SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPG serves as main contractor for ESA's Schottky diode space qualification program. Developed frontend for Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) under leadership of Airbus Spain and ESA for MetOp Second Generation satellites.
• ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) - NOVA/ESOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPG custom-designed, manufactured, and delivered Downconverter Units for ALMA Band 2 project to the ALMA consortium (NOVA, ESO). This enables the radio telescope to observe frequency range between 67 GHz and 116 GHz for observing cold molecular clouds and investigating water distribution in the universe.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Keysight Technologies: Broad incumbent in electronic test and measurement; competes with RPG's VNA/spectrum analyzer extension modules via in-house mmWave capability and is a potential OEM partner for RPG-style extenders.
• Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG: Parent company (100% owner since 2024) and broad incumbent in T&M and aerospace/defense; RPG is effectively its specialty mmWave/THz vehicle, and R&S's ZVA/ZVT vector analyzer family is the host platform for RPG's extender modules.
• Anritsu Corporation: Broad incumbent offering vector network analyzers and mmWave modules (e.g., ME7838 series) that overlap RPG's mmWave T&M value proposition for communications and aerospace test.
• Thales Alenia Space: Broad incumbent prime contractor for European space missions (including MetOp family); relevant as both a competitor for full-payload programs and a potential customer/partner for RPG-supplied frontends and receivers.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Broad incumbent in space and defense electronics, including microwave and radiometer payloads; represents both a competitor (larger scale on space instruments) and an adjacent ecosystem player to RPG.

Direct peers

• SAGE Millimeter: Direct peer supplying passive and active mmWave/sub-mm components, antennas, and subsystems — including frequency multipliers and mixers — that overlap RPG's component catalogue.
• QuinStar Technology: Direct peer in mmWave and sub-mm wave components, subsystems, and integrated assemblies for aerospace, defense, and scientific research — overlapping RPG's mixer, amplifier, and receiver product lines.
• Virginia Diodes Inc. (VDI): Closest direct peer: designs and manufactures mmWave and sub-mm wave components, sources, and test equipment (VNA/spectrum analyzer extensions) from ~50 GHz to 2 THz, serving the same scientific, space, and defense customers as RPG.
• Farran Technology: Direct peer providing mmWave and sub-mm wave components, sources, and detectors; competes with RPG in mmWave/THz test equipment and components for the same niche research and aerospace customers.
• OML Inc. Direct peer offering mmWave and sub-mm wave frequency-extension modules, mixers, multipliers, and low-noise receivers for test-and-measurement and research applications; competes head-to-head with RPG's VNA/signal/spectrum extender portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radiometer-physics-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Radiometer Physics GmbH