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Italy Officially Selects Germany’s Rheinmetall Skynex Air Defense System.
As part of modernizing its air defense capabilities, the Italian Army awarded Rheinmetall a contract on January 15, 2024, for the supply of the advanced Skynex air defense system. The first order, worth €73 million, includes surveillance sensors, command and control elements, and 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3 cannons. The contract also includes an option for acquiring three additional systems estimated at €204 million, bringing the total potential value to nearly €280 million for four Skynex systems.
Italy became the first NATO member nation to adopt the Skynex technology combined with 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3 cannons. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)
With this contract, Italy became the first NATO member nation to adopt the Skynex technology combined with 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3 cannons. This acquisition reflects Italy’s desire to strengthen its ground-based air defense (GBAD) capabilities against a wide range of modern threats, including drones, loitering munitions, missiles, artillery, and mortars. Delivery of the first system is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, while the three additional systems, if confirmed, could be ordered in 2027.
Italy’s choice of Skynex represents a major milestone for Rheinmetall, reinforcing the system’s reputation as the new international standard in cannon-based air defense. Romania, also a NATO member, recently opted for Skynex, integrating it with its existing GDF-009 twin-gun batteries. Skynex-based solutions have proven their effectiveness in Ukraine under difficult operational conditions, successfully engaging a wide range of aerial threats.
Skynex relies on advanced surveillance radars such as Rheinmetall’s 3D XTAR radar, capable of detecting and identifying threats within a radius of up to 50 km.
All detection data is transmitted to a remote command and control center. Operators thus benefit from an integrated battlefield view, enabling quick and precise target allocation to various effectors.
Each Skynex system includes four 35mm cannons firing at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute, with a range of up to 4 km. The use of programmable Ahead ammunition, highly resistant to electronic countermeasures, ensures a high degree of accuracy at a significantly lower cost compared to missile-based systems.
Skynex’s open architecture facilitates the integration of additional sensors and effectors, including Rheinmetall’s existing Skyshield or Skyguard solutions. This modularity ensures employment flexibility and future scalability to meet changing operational requirements.
Skynex is particularly noteworthy for short-range protection, where missile systems are less effective. Its proven performance in Ukraine and growing adoption by NATO members underscore its reliability and effectiveness. Equipped with cutting-edge sensors, high-performance effectors, and a flexible network architecture, Skynex continues to set new standards for short- and very-short-range air defense missions in modern warfare scenarios.
In addition to air defense, Rheinmetall anticipates further opportunities in Italy, notably in programs to modernize heavy combat vehicles. In partnership with Leonardo, Rheinmetall expects significant contracts aimed at equipping the Italian Armed Forces with new main battle tanks (MBTs) and next-generation Lynx infantry fighting vehicles (AICS). With three subsidiaries and around 1,500 employees in Italy, Rheinmetall already generates over €1 billion in annual sales in the country, a figure likely to increase with these new projects.