The UK's largest fully autonomous UAV, MANTIS has successfully competed initial flight trials.
MANTIS is a fully autonomous next-generation unmanned aircraft system that requires reduced human intervention by understanding and reacting to its environment.
The system also reduces manpower requirements and the risk of accidents due to human error and the communications/data link requirements between the vehicle and the ground.
The UAV will be able to gather intelligence at long distances and can carry significant payloads in terms of sensors and weaponry.
The UAV system has completed a series of trials to demonstrate its capability and the potential of large unmanned systems to support future UK defence operational needs.
The MANTIS is jointly funded by UK ministry of defence and the nation's industry including BAE Systems and part of UK MoD's advanced concept technology demonstrator programme.
