According to information published by the German Newspaper website "Handelsblatt" on December 9, 2022, the order of the two Skynex mobile air defense weapon systems announced by the German company Rheinmetall on December 9, 2022, is for Ukraine.
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Mobile version of the Skynex air defense system is based on a 6x6 MAN military truck with the 35mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 mounted at the rear of the truck chassis (Picture source Rheinmetall)
The German Company Rheinmetall has developed a truck-mounted version of its Skynex air defense system which is designed to be used as a short-range air defense system able to counter swarm drone attacks and cruise missiles. The system was demonstrated in 2021, during the 35mm Air Defence Systems Group.
The Skynex is a short-range air defense system designed and manufactured by the German company Rheinmetall. The Oerlikon Skymaster® Battle Management System is the control node and centerpiece of the system. Various sensors and effectors can be linked in a modular way in order to fit mission requirements.
The Skynex unit can use several medium-range radars, such as the Oerlikon X-TAR3D Tactical Acquisition Radar, to provide the air picture, which is consolidated in the control node. The weapon systems of the Skynex can include Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3, the Oerlikon Twin Gun GDF009 TREO, surface-to-air missiles, means for active and passive electronic warfare and future high-energy lasers can be integrated.
The Skynex that will be delivered to Ukraine is based on a 6x6 man truck with a crew cabin at the front and an Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 weapon station mounted a the rear of the truck chassis. The turret is armed with one 35mm revolver cannon.
The unmanned Revolver Gun Mk3 combines exceptional precision with high firepower, firing up to 1,000 rounds per minute. Against aerial targets, the 35mm cannon has a maximum firing range of 3,500 m and 5,000 for land targets. With its own sensor unit, consisting of a tracking radar, a TV and an IR camera as well as laser range finders, the gun can take over any in-range air targets assigned by Skymaster and autonomously track and engage such targets. Using the programmable 35mm Ahead ammunition, the gun is able to hit even the smallest targets.
The Skynex weapon system includes the unmanned 35mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3
The basic version of Skynex is capable to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, small to large tactical drones, air-to-ground-missiles as well as mortars and artillery rockets up to distances of 4 km. This makes Skynex the ideal solution to protect high-value stationary assets such as vital military and civil infrastructures like airfields, military bases, harbors, bridges, or nuclear power plants against air strikes in all-weather conditions, at day and at night.
The basic configuration of the Skynex System consists of a control node with the Oerlikon Skymaster Battle Management System, the medium-range Oerlikon X-TAR3D Search Radar, and up to four remote-controlled Oerlikon Revolver Guns Mk3. Depending on the size of the defended asset the basic Skynex System can easily be expanded with additional sensors and effectors.
The Skynex Control Node 1 houses the computers and operator consoles of the Skymaster Battle Management System in a 20 feet container equipped with a power supply, air conditioning, protection, and communication systems. It provides the operators with all command and control functionalities required to conduct their air defense missions. This includes control of the connected weapons and sensors, targeting, and firing.
The X-TAR3D is a three-dimensional multi-mission X-band search radar. As a light and mobile tactical acquisition radar, it is ideally suited for short and very-short-range air defense systems such as the Oerlikon Skynex® Air Defence System. It performs the search, detection, acquisition, tracking and identification of high and low-altitude air targets, in order to provide the Skynex Control Node with a coherent three-dimensional air picture. The radar has a detection range from 20 to 50 km.
