Germany takes delivery of MANTIS air defence system

Rheinmetall has announced the formal delivery of the MANTIS air defence system to the German Air Force during a ceremony in Husum, Germany, home of Air Defence Missile Squadron 1 Schleswig-Holstein. The MANTIS system will bring the German Air Force the ability to counter a wide array of threats in future operational scenarios.

MANTIS stands for ‘Modular, Automatic and Network-capable Targeting and Interception System’, and is a high performance, automated air defence system for asset protection. Full integration into the German Air Force’s existing command and information systems has already been achieved, with plans in place to ensure that it meets future requirements as well.

MANTIS is designed to protect military installations and critical civilian infrastructure from aerial threats coming in at low altitude, including manned and unmanned aircraft. It is also able to neutralise incoming rockets, artillery and mortar rounds (RAM threats). The system can be deployed to defend national territory and allied nations or in military operations other than war (MOOTW); while in conflict and post-conflict situations, it can be used to protect Bundeswehr forward operating bases and other facilities.

Rheinmetall calls mantis the future mainstay of modern, ground-based area and air defence of assets. If an asset has to be protected at short notice, the radar and gun components can be transported to the area of operations on quickly deployable platforms. MANTIS has a modular design, giving its users the ability to upgrade and expand the system in future. According to Rheinmetall, in addition to its current 35mm Revolver cannons, it will be possible in future to augment MANTIS with other effectors such as anti-aircraft missiles or high-energy lasers, integrating them directly into the system.

The system was officially handed over by Bodo Garbe, a member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence.

Garbe commented: ‘Thanks to MANTIS, the German Air Force now has at its disposal the world’s leading air defence system for asset protection. It is a highly effective system, capable of countering a wide array of threats in future operational scenarios. Moreover, its open architecture design makes it a future-proof investment. Rheinmetall is proud of the contribution MANTIS will make to protecting our men and women in uniform during deployed operations.’