Skynex Air Defence System Delivered to Italy
Rheinmetall completes handover of Italy’s first Skynex close-range air defence system, strengthening counter-drone and short-range air defence capabilities of the Italian Army.
www.rheinmetall.com
Italian Army has taken delivery of its first Skynex air defence system from Rheinmetall. The handover was completed on 18 December 2025 at the Comando Artiglieria Controaeri (Air Defence Artillery Command) base in Sabaudia, marking the operational introduction of a cannon-based close and very-short-range air defence capability into Italian service.
Contract background and delivery timeline
The Skynex system was ordered in January 2025 by Rheinmetall Italia under a contract valued at approximately €73 million. The agreement includes options for three additional systems. The first battery has now been delivered within the same calendar year, establishing Italy as the first NATO member state to field the Skynex architecture.
Addressing close-range and counter-drone threats
Modern conflicts have highlighted the growing role of low-altitude threats such as unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions, and cruise missiles, particularly in urban and infrastructure-dense environments. These targets often operate within engagement envelopes where missile-based air defence systems are less effective or economically inefficient.
Skynex is designed specifically for close-range and very-close-range air defence, providing kinetic engagement capability where reaction time, target density, and cost per intercept are critical parameters.
Cannon-based effector and ammunition concept
At the core of the Skynex system is the 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk3. The cannon has a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute and an effective engagement range of approximately 4 km. It employs programmable AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition, which releases a controlled pattern of sub-projectiles in front of the target.
This ammunition concept is resistant to electronic countermeasures and is optimized for defeating small, fast, and agile aerial targets. Compared with missile-based interceptors, the cost per engagement is significantly lower, allowing sustained defence against mass drone attacks.
Sensor architecture and airspace surveillance
Italy selected a Skynex configuration equipped with the XTAR 3D radar supplied by Rheinmetall. The radar provides three-dimensional airspace surveillance with a detection radius of up to 50 km, enabling early warning and target tracking well beyond the gun engagement zone.
A defining feature of Skynex is the separation of sensors, effectors, and command-and-control functions. Airspace surveillance, target tracking, and weapon assignment are handled independently, improving system resilience and flexibility.
Modularity and system integration
Skynex is built on an open, modular command-and-control architecture that allows different sensors and effectors to be integrated based on mission requirements. As long as a compatible tracking unit is available, the system can incorporate additional air defence assets.
Existing Rheinmetall air defence systems, including the Skyshield and Skyguard families, can be integrated as firing units within the Skynex network. The air picture is presented in a remote command-and-control centre, displaying sensor coverage, effector positions, and target tracks on a unified map to support rapid and coordinated engagement decisions.
Operational relevance and NATO context
Operational use of Skynex systems by Ukrainian forces has demonstrated the effectiveness of cannon-based air defence against drones and cruise missiles under combat conditions. Italy’s adoption positions the system within NATO’s evolving short-range air defence landscape, where layered defence concepts increasingly combine radar-guided guns and missiles.
With the delivery of its first Skynex battery, the Italian Army establishes a modern, network-enabled close-range air defence capability designed to counter emerging aerial threats while maintaining interoperability and scalability within allied air defence frameworks.
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