Ukraine conflict: Slovakia to receive MANTIS C-RAM system from Germany

Germany is donating two MANTIS C-RAM systems to Slovakia for the protection of critical infrastructure. (Luftwaffe/Rheinmetall Defence)

Germany is donating two Modular, Automatic and Network capable Targeting and Interception System (MANTIS) counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar defence (C-RAM) systems to Slovakia, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and General Eberhard Zorn, Inspekteur der Bundeswehr (armed forces chief), announced in a 7 February order of the day. They said the donation would permanently strengthen Slovak air defences and that training of specialists from the Eastern European country on MANTIS would begin in Germany in the “coming months”.

MANTIS is based on an improved version of the Skyshield system originally developed by Oerlikon, now part of Rheinmetall, and fires 35 mm advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) air burst munitions to intercept and destroy RAM rounds before they reach their targets. Each of the two systems delivered to the Bundeswehr at the end of 2012 consists of six 35 mm guns, two radars, a command post, a maintenance console, and an operator simulator. The system can be deployed with up to eight guns.