In this article, a new linearly tapered slot antenna (LTSA) with half‐circular slots (HCSs) embedded on both edge‐sides is proposed for improving antenna gain. The side lobe levels of the LTSA are lowered as these HCSs may alter the surface current intensities on both edge‐sides. As the half‐circular size is increased, the 3‐dB beamwidths of the proposed antenna are decreased in E‐ and H‐plane, respectively. The measured gain is improved in a whole Ku‐band (12.4–18.5 GHz), and it has a maximum gain of 14.8 dB at the design frequency of 15 GHz. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:686–688, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25818