The Ministry of Defense of Slovakia reported that on October 24, 2023, on the basis of the 11th Brigade of the Slovak Air Force (uniting the air defense system) in Nitra, a ceremony was held for the transfer of two 35-mm MANTIS stationary anti-aircraft artillery systems produced by Rheinmetall group received from Germany to this part.
The 35 mm RGM firing module of the Rheinmetall MANTIS anti-aircraft artillery complex during the ceremony of the transfer of two complexes to Slovakia from the armed forces of Germany. Nitra, 24.10.2023 (c) Ministry of Defense of Slovakia
An agreement on the transfer of two MANTIS complexes by Germany to Slovakia was reached in February 2023. The complexes were transferred by Germany free of charge as compensation for weapons and equipment transferred by Slovakia from the presence of its armed forces to Ukraine. Germany has also trained more than 100 Slovak military personnel for MANTIS complexes.
Each MANTIS complex received by Slovakia includes six remotely controlled Revolver Gun Mounts (RGM) combat modules with a single-barrel 35 mm Oerlikon KDG35/1000 revolver gun (GDF-020), two target detection and tracking modules with radar and optoelectronic NBS stations, and one BFZ command post. In addition, Germany, together with these complexes, transferred five low-flying target detection radars to Slovakia.
The MANTIS complex (Modular, Automatic and Network capable Targeting and Interception System) was developed by Rheinmetall's Rheinmetall Air Defense division (the former well-known Swiss company Oerlikon Contraves Defense, acquired by Rheinmetall in 2000) and is essentially a semi-stationary version of the Skyshield 35 AHEAD with the use of Revolver Gun Mounts (RGM) firing modules with a single-barrel 35 mm revolver gun Oerlikon KDG35/1000 (GDF-020) rate of fire of 1000 rounds per minute, firing programmable shots. This system is also used in the Skyranger ZSU and the Millennium MDG-35 ship ZAC. The RGM combat module has a curb weight of 5800 kg and is transported by car. The MANTIS complex, also referred to as MOOTW/C-RAM (Military Operations Other Than War/Counter-Rockets, Artillery and Mortar) and Nächstbereichschutzsystem C-RAM (NBS C-RAM) was created by order of the German Ministry of Defense under a contract issued in 2007 worth 48 million euros as mainly a means of defense stationary objects (military bases, etc.) from rocket and mortar attacks.
In 2009, Rheinmetall received a contract from the German Ministry of Defense worth 110.8 million euros for the supply of two MANTIS complexes. In addition, another 20 million euros were allocated for the purchase of simulators and training equipment for the complexes, and 13.4 million euros for the purchase of ammunition. The first two RGM firing modules for military tests were delivered in early 2011, and both complexes (batteries) were introduced into the German Air Force in 2012-2013. It was planned to send one MANTIS complex to the base of the German contingent in Afghanistan, but due to the withdrawal of this contingent in 2014, the deployment of MANTIS in Afghanistan never took place. At the end of 2017, elements of one complex (without firing modules, only for detection) were deployed as part of the EU contingent in Mali. Now both MANTIS complexes have been transferred from the German Air Force to Slovakia.
The ceremony of the transfer of two Rheinmetall MANTIS anti-aircraft artillery systems to Slovakia from the armed forces of Germany. The first two images show 35 mm RGM firing modules, the other two images show NBS target detection and tracking modules. Nitra, 24.10.2023 (c) Ministry of Defense of Slovakia