MANTIS Air Defence System

{{Infobox weapon

|name= MANTIS Air defence system

| image= Meppen - WTD91 (TdBW) 109 ies.jpg

| image_size = 340 px

|caption= A turret of the German Air Force

|origin=

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|is_ranged=YES

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|is_explosive=

|is_artillery=YES

|is_vehicle=

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|used_by= Slovakia

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|manufacturer= Rheinmetall Air Defence

|production_date= 2011–present

|number=

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|weight= 5800 kg with ammunition

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|crew= 4

|cartridge= AHEAD 35×228mm

|caliber= 35 × 228 mm

|action=

|rate= 1000 rounds/min

|velocity=

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|breech=

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|elevation= −15° to +85°

|traverse=Full 360°

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MANTIS Air Defence System{{Cite news|url=https://www.army-technology.com/projects/mantis/|title=NBS MANTIS Air Defence Protection System |publisher=Army Technology|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en-GB}} (Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System), formerly titled NBS-C-RAM ({{lang|de|Nächstbereichschutzsystem}} Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar), is a very short range air defence protection system of the German Air Force, intended for base-protection.{{cn|date=September 2023}} It is produced by Rheinmetall Air Defence, a subsidiary of Rheinmetall of Germany. It is a part of the air force's future SysFla air-defence project.

System

The MANTIS system is intended to detect, track and shoot down incoming projectiles before they can reach their target within very close range. The system itself is based on Oerlikon Contraves' Skyshield air defence gun system. A MANTIS system consists of six 35 mm automatic guns (capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute), a ground control unit and two sensor units. The guns fire programmable AHEAD ammunition, developed by Rheinmetall Weapons and Munitions - Switzerland (formerly Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec). The ammunition carries a payload of 152 tungsten projectiles weighing 3.3 g (51 gr) each.

The MANTIS radar can acquire a target within two seconds, then engage it with one of the guns firing a 36-round burst. Two guns directed by one radar each can engage multiple targets. After being manually activated, the system operates fully automatically.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 February 2023|title=Ukraine conflict: Slovakia to receive MANTIS C-RAM system from Germany|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-slovakia-to-receive-mantis-c-ram-system-from-germany|access-date=|website=Janes Information Services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210192453/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-slovakia-to-receive-mantis-c-ram-system-from-germany|archive-date=10 February 2023|url-status=live}}

Originally, the German Army ordered a first batch of two systems in 2009, to be delivered in 2013, with two more systems planned to follow later but these were never bought. Both MANTIS systems were transferred to the German Air Force, which is responsible for all air defence tasks. The German Air Force took possession of the first MANTIS system on January 1, 2011.[http://defpro.com/news/details/20961/?SID=a320d52cc0c2279bd9415750c03ec017Nächstbereichschutzsystem] {{dead link|date=May 2015}} It was first deployed to Mali at the end of 2017, although without the guns.

The first two systems cost around €110.8 million, plus another €20 million for training and documentation purposes. In a follow-on contract, worth around €13.4 million, Rheinmetall would also deliver the corresponding ammunition to the Bundeswehr.[http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=5063&lang=2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523213837/http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=5063&lang=2|date=May 23, 2009}}

On 7 February 2023, Germany announced it would be donating the two MANTIS systems to Slovakia to strengthen Slovak air defences permanently.{{cite web | url = https://www.tyzden.sk/politika/93330/nemecko-poskytne-slovensku-systemy-protivzdusnej-obrany-mantis/ | title = Nemecko poskytne Slovensku systémy protivzdušnej obrany MANTIS | newspaper = .týždeň | language = sk | access-date = 9 February 2023 | date = 9 February 2023 }}

On 24 October 2023, The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojené sily Slovenskej republiky) took over the Mantis air defence system from the German Air Force at the 11th Air Force Brigade in Nitra. Their task will be to strengthen the protection of the eastern border with Ukraine.{{cite web | url = https://domov.sme.sk/c/23235733/armada-si-prevzala-systemy-protivzdusnej-obrany-mantis.html | title = Armáda si prevzala systémy protivzdušnej obrany MANTIS | newspaper = .sme | language = sk | access-date = 24 October 2023 | date = 24 October 2023 }}{{cite web | url = https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/slovensko-si-prevzalo-system-protivzdu/749792-clanok.html | title = Slovensko si prevzalo systém protivzdušnej obrany MANTIS | newspaper = .teraz | language = sk | access-date = 24 October 2023 | date = 24 October 2023 }}