A system and method for assembling an antenna comprising an aperture plate having a plurality of aperture elements therethrough is disclosed. The method comprises forming a matrix of the at least a subset of the dielectric loads, each dielectric load having a longitudinal axis, the matrix of the at least a subset of the dielectric loads joined together by planar sacrificial interconnecting material perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each dielectric load of the subset of dielectric loads, inserting the matrix of the at least a subset of the dielectric loads in at least a subset of the plurality of aperture elements, and removing planar sacrificial interconnecting material. Another embodiment is evidenced by an antenna produced by the foregoing steps. Multiple embodiments are disclosed.