BAE Systems has successfully flown the largest, fully autonomous unmanned aircraft ever to be built in the U.K. The next-generation autonomous system, MANTIS, completed its maiden flight in Woomera, South Australia.
MANTIS has a 20-meter wingspan and is BAE Systems’ first all-electric aircraft. The system is intended to be easily deployable, and it can be broken down to fit into a military transport aircraft. Because of its reduced need for human intervention, MANTIS can operate more effectively and decrease concerns over vehicle control or accidents caused due to human error. MANTIS can also conduct intelligence gathering at long distances and carry significant payloads in terms of sensors and, potentially, weaponry.
The project has been funded by the UK Ministry of Defence and UK Industry, and BAE Systems has been involved in the first phase of the program. MANTIS shares a common UAS control infrastructure with other BAE Systems Unmanned Autonomous Systems, such as Taranis and HERTI.
