Rheinmetall to upgrade Skyguard Swiss air defence systems 41805163

Defence & Security News - Switzerland
 
Rheinmetall to upgrade Skyguard Swiss air defence systems
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG has been contracted to modernize the Swiss Armed Forces’ Oerlikon Skyguard air defence systems. The life extension programme will run through to 2019, so as to maintain the system operational until at least 2025. The value of the contract has not been disclosed but the company mentioned it is a seven-figure Euro amount.
     
Rheinmetall to upgrade Skyguard Swiss air defence systems 1
Oerlikon Skyguard's 35mm twin-guns (Photo: Army Recognition)
     

The modernization will be implemented at the 35mm guns, the fire control units and the command and control unit. In addition, the contract includes the provision of additional spare parts.

The contract was signed between Armasuisse, the federal procurement agency of Switzerland, and Rheinmetall Air Defence AG based of Zürich, which is part of the Rheinmetall Group. As per the customer’s request, RUAG Aviation will be a subcontractor in the project.

Swiss Armed Forces’ air defence systems will reach their service life limit within the newt few years. These are the Stinger, Rapier and Oerlikon Skyguard. Switzerland has taken the first step in maintaining them in its inventory for the next ten years, starting with the Skyguard.