An RFID read antenna assembly (100) for use on a metal substrate (20) is used to read an RFID tag (22) carried by an article (12) positioned relative to the metal substrate. The antenna assembly comprises a high permeability layer (104) mountable to the metal substrate, an elongate carrier (114) mounted to the high permeability layer and defining a longitudinal axis (106), and at least one antenna coil (102) carried by the elongate carrier. The at least one antenna coil has a plurality of uniformly spaced transversely arranged portions (116) defining a sequence of antenna loops (105) of substantially constant width. The width of each antenna loop is substantially the same as the spacing between adjacent transversely arranged portions.