The Federal Republic of Germany will provide Slovakia with two sets of the modern MANTIS air defense system, which will strengthen the protection of the eastern border with Ukraine provided by the forces and resources of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic. Each of the two systems consists of up to 8 automatic weapon stations, 2 radar stations and a command post. The package from German Air Force also includes an overview radar with a range of up to 100 km and training for Slovak soldiers. Slovakia will receive these systems free of charge and permanently, based on correct relations, professional negotiations and the common goal of NATO – to strengthen and protect the eastern border, of which they are a part.
MANTIS Air Defence System (Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System), formerly titled NBS-C-RAM (Nachstbereichschutzsystem Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar), is a very short-range air defence protection system of the German Air Force, intended for base-protection. 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. The MANTIS air defense system is a stationary, fully automated weapon system designed for the continuous defense of ground objects against the effects of missiles, artillery systems, mortars and unmanned aerial vehicles. Germany developed MANTIS primarily to protect the bases in Afghanistan, where until recently German soldiers operated.
The counter rocket, artillery, and mortar, abbreviated C-RAM or counter-RAM system is supposed 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. An NBS C-RAM system consists of six 35mm automatic guns (capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute), a ground control unit and two sensor units. The entire system is fully automated. 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 3.3g (51gr) each.
The Bundeswehr (German Armed Force) like the armed forces of other nations – lacked a weapon system capable of intercepting small incoming projectiles. The German Army ordered a first batch of two systems in 2009, to be delivered in 2013, but were never bought. Both MANTIS counter rocket, artillery, and mortar systems have been transferred to the German Air Force, which is now responsible for all air defence tasks. 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 also delivered the corresponding ammunition to the Bundeswehr. The German Air Force took possession of the first MANTIS system on January 1, 2011.
