Design and Analysis of a Compact Swastik-Slot Microstrip Patch Antenna for Ku-Band SATCOM Applications

Satellite communication (SATCOM) is crucial for enabling long-distance connectivity and data exchange, supporting applications in broadband internet, remote sensing, military operations, and emergency response. This paper presents the design and analysis of a compact rectangular microstrip patch antenna featuring a Swastikslot configuration, operating at a frequency of 20 GHz within the extended Ku-band. The antenna is fabricated on an FR4 substrate with a thickness of 1.57 mm, offering a costeffective and efficient solution for SATCOM applications. The antenna's performance is optimized, achieving a return loss of −16.0178 dB, a gain of 3.6832 dB and a bandwidth of 493.7 MHz, which makes it suitable for high-data-rate communication systems. The design incorporates a carefully placed feed and the Swastik-slot structure to ensure impedance matching and enhance bandwidth. With its compact form factor and moderate gain, this antenna is wellsuited for portable SATCOM devices like Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and mobile ground stations. This paper discusses the antenna's design process, simulation results, and practical applications, emphasizing its potential for real-world deployment. Offering reliable performance, wideband capabilities, and a cost-effective design, this antenna is a promising solution to meet the increasing demands of modern SATCOM systems across both civilian and defense sectors. Designed using ANSYS HFSS.