The Concept
One Mast. Any Mission.
"Field-swappable" means the mast detaches from one mount and attaches to another in the field without tools or a crew, in just minutes. The same mast that was on your patrol vehicle hitch last week can be on your rooftop tripod today and mounted to a solar trailer tomorrow.
No competitor offers this. Traditional surveillance towers are locked to one mounting method. Traditional trailers have fixed, non-removable masts. The RATT field-swappable system is protected by three US patents and validated by SOCOM across all three mount configurations.
The Four Configurations
Same Mast. Four Deployments.
The mast is constant. The mount changes based on the mission. The device at the top, camera, antenna, light, LPR, is always your choice.
Configuration 1
Hitch Mount
Deploys from any 2×2" hitch receiver in under 10 minutes. Powers from the vehicle's cigarette lighter or 7-way plug. Goes wherever the vehicle goes, including UTVs and off-road vehicles. Terrain-adjustable 21° front-to-back articulation keeps the mast vertical on slopes.
Best for: Events · Incidents · Mobile operations
Configuration 2
Tripod Legs
Vehicle-free deployment anywhere. Rooftop, parking lot, roadblock position, stadium concourse. Secured with 50–100 lb sandbags on each leg. Connected to shore power or a portable power station, a tripod-mounted RATT can operate unmanned for days or weeks.
Best for: Rooftops · Indoor deployments · No-vehicle ops
Configuration 3
Wall Mount
Fixed to any structure, building wall, mobile command vehicle, trailer exterior. Permanent elevation without permanent infrastructure. Shore power and LAN connection enable continuous unmanned operation indefinitely. Deployed at Knoxville Catholic High School for 18+ months without maintenance.
Best for: Permanent positions · Campus security · Command vehicles
Configuration 4
Solar Trailer
The FST-44 solar trailer is built around the same field-swappable mast. Move your existing RATT mast and camera from the hitch to the trailer for multi-week unattended deployments, then bring it back. Born from customer demand as law enforcement agencies with RATTs asked CTS to build it.
Best for: Long-duration · Crime hot spots · Off-grid
Why Field-Swappable Wins
The Advantages No Competitor Can Match.
Maximum ROI
One mast investment covers four deployment scenarios. 75% of RATT customers buy both the hitch mount and tripod legs. SOCOM bought all three. The more missions you deploy it on, the lower the per-deployment cost.
Patent Protected
Three US patents protect the field-swappable system, including a 2025 patent specifically covering the multi-mount ecosystem. No competitor can legally replicate this architecture. CTS is the exclusive source. View patents at Google Patents.
Zero Maintenance Burden
No generator. No trailer tires to maintain. No batteries to charge in storage. The RATT hitch system powers off the vehicle. The system deploys from any hitch-equipped vehicle already in your fleet and no new assets are required.
Terrain Articulation
The hitch-mounted RATT articulates 21° front-to-back keeping the mast vertical even on a slope. Traditional trailers can't deploy on uneven surfaces. The RATT goes where the vehicle goes, on any terrain.
Any Device on Top
The field-swappable mast elevates any device under the payload limit. PTZ cameras, fixed cameras, antennas, lighting, LPR, or custom mounts. Camera, antenna, and light are all the same mast.
Sole Source Eligible
The patented field-swappable system enables sole-source procurement in many agencies since no other vendor offers equivalent capability. CTS provides a sole source letter referencing all three patents to support your procurement.
Common Questions
About the Platform
What does "field-swappable" actually mean?
It means the mast detaches from one mount and attaches to another in the field — without tools, without a crew, in minutes. The same mast that was on your patrol vehicle hitch at a special event can be on your rooftop tripod the next day and mounted to a solar trailer the week after. No other system on the market can do this.
How many mount configurations does the RATT support?
Four: hitch mount, tripod legs, wall mount, and solar trailer. Each configuration uses the same patented mast. You can own one mast and deploy it across all four scenarios, or purchase multiple mounts to have different configurations ready simultaneously.
What devices can be mounted on top?
Any device within the payload limit — PTZ cameras, fixed cameras, LPR systems, P25 antennas, RF repeaters, lighting, or custom mounts. The standard mast handles devices up to 35 lbs. An optional heavy-duty mast handles devices up to 60 lbs. The FST-44 solar trailer mast supports up to 77 lbs.
Can my agency procure the RATT without a competitive bid?
Yes, two ways. Through TIPS Contract #230105, available to agencies in all 50 states with no membership fee. Or through sole source justification under FAR 6.302-1 — CTS holds three US patents on the field-swappable platform, meaning no competitor can offer an equivalent system. CTS provides sole source documentation at no charge.
Is the field-swappable mast system patented?
Yes. Three US patents protect the field-swappable mast system and the multi-mount ecosystem it enables. This means CTS is the exclusive source for this capability. No competitor can legally manufacture or sell an equivalent system, which is why SOCOM validated CTS across all three mount configurations on a sole source basis.
One Platform. Every Mission.
See the Field-Swappable
Platform in Action.
CTS has been selling technology to public safety agencies and military since 2013. Request a quote or explore The RATT platform to see all configurations and pricing.
NDAA / TAA Compliant · 3 US Patents · TIPS Contract #230105 · Sole Source Eligible · FBINAA Strategic Alliance Partner · Tennessee Built