During the course of December 18, the German company Rheinmetall announced that it delivered to the Italian Army the first of its new Skynex air defense systems equipped with the 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk.3, which will be integrated into the Air Defense Artillery Command in the town of Sabaudia. With the arrival of this new platform, the Italian Army strengthens its short-range air defense capabilities, as this system is especially effective against enemy drone threats, an increasingly relevant factor on modern battlefields.
Expanding on the details, it should be recalled that with this Skynex system in its inventory, Italy becomes the first NATO member to field it. The order for this first unit was finalized through an agreement dating back to mid-January, when Rome decided to invest approximately €73 million to acquire it, also leaving the door open for the delivery of three additional units to further reinforce its inventory, for a total value of €280 million. Looking ahead, Romania is expected to become the second NATO user of the system, while Ukraine already has it in service within its air defense networks, albeit in the twin-gun GDF-009 variant.
Regarding the characteristics of the system acquired by Italy, it should be noted that Skynex is an air defense solution designed for operational scenarios in which guided weapons are deemed ineffective, according to the manufacturer. Armed with the Revolver Gun Mk.3, the system is capable of firing up to 1,000 rounds per minute, with an effective range of around 4 kilometers.
In addition, the Skynex system is compatible with programmable AHEAD ammunition, which is resistant to potential electronic countermeasures employed by targets, ensuring precise engagement, while also offering a significantly lower cost compared to missiles currently used for similar missions. It is also known that the system delivered to Italy is configured to operate in conjunction with Rheinmetall’s XTAR 3D radar, which provides detection and tracking capabilities out to a range of 50 kilometers.
Finally, it is worth noting that air defense is not the only area in which Rheinmetall and Italy have recently cooperated as part of Rome’s efforts to modernize its Armed Forces. This partnership can also be seen in the recent acquisition of Lynx KF-41 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, which will be produced by the German company together with Leonardo. In addition, Italy has entrusted the same industrial partnership with the development and manufacture of its future main battle tank, a design expected to be based on the Panther KF-51.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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