Millimeter wave microstrip surface mounted attenuator

A microstrip attenuator comprising a block of lossy material which is preferably impregnated with ferrite particles and having a groove of a predetermined height and width dimension formed in the bottom surface thereof defining a tunnel and positionable upon a microstrip transmission line assembly, such that the microstrip element of the assembly passes through the tunnel, but is in non-contact relation with respect to the surface-mounted microstrip element. The degree of attenuation afforded by the attenuator is primarily a function of the aforementioned length and height dimension of the tunnel formed in the block of lossy material.