Douglas SPD Wins NAVAIR Prototype Contract

NAVAIR provides unique engineering, development, testing, evaluation, in-service support and programme management capabilities to deliver airborne weapons systems that are technologically superior and readily available.
The order with Douglas SPD will enable NAVAIR to assess the Mantis as a replacement system for existing deck handling equipment and a key feature will be the unit's ability to increase the mass parking capability when 'spotting' aircraft onboard ships or in hangars.

Mantis offers fast, precise control from a chest pack operator module and fits within the aircraft footprint to permit high precision, side-by-side parking density and make the best use of onboard or hangar parking space.

It has a very low under fuselage capability and handles all current and proposed helicopters and fighter aircraft in both land based and marine operations. This even includes aircraft with deflated tyres or collapsed oleo legs.

Mantis offers 3.5 hours continuous movement of an 18,000kg aircraft from a single charge and its heavy duty batteries - which are computer managed - can be re-charged rapidly via an HF transformer to minimise downtime.

The Mantis units will be assembled in the USA at the Douglas Equipment manufacturing plant near Atlanta in Georgia. Douglas personnel based at the plant will also provide full technical and service support for the NAVAIR prototype equipment world-wide.