PRAGUE, Feb 9 Germany will provide Slovakia with free and permanent based on two complexes of short-range air defense systems Mantis to protect the eastern border with Ukraine, Martina Kakashchikova, spokeswoman for the republic's Ministry of Defense, told reporters on Thursday.
Mantis is a stationary short-range air defense system. It is designed to protect specific structures or objects from missiles, artillery, mines, as well as drones and cruise missiles.
«Germany will supply Slovakia free of charge and on a permanent basis with two stationary Mantis short-range air defense systems, which will help strengthen the defense of the republic's eastern border with Ukraine,» the spokeswoman said.
In turn, the head of the defense department, Yaroslav Nagy, noted the high quality of Mantis systems.
«We managed to agree on assistance from Slovakia in the form of the most modern technology. Germany will provide us with two sets of Mantis systems for a total of 120 million euros. Moreover, these systems will be transferred to us free of charge and on a permanent basis. In this In this case, we are talking about an addition to our air defense. Training of our military personnel to manage these systems will begin in the near future. The transfer of this modern equipment to us is an assessment of Slovakia's contribution to supporting Ukraine,» Nagy wrote on Facebook* (banned in the Russian Federation).
* Meta activity (social networks Facebook, Instagram) is banned in Russia as extremist.