IDEX 2021: EDGE Halcon presents SkyKnight missile first UAE-made C-RAM counter artillery ammunition.

At IDEX 2021, the International Land Defense Exhibition, EDGE Subdivision, Halcon presents a new generation of C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) air defense missile called SkyKnight able to destroy incoming rockets, artillery, and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets at a maximum range of 10 km.

The SkyKnight C-RAM missile at IDEX 2021, International Land Defense Exhibition that was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 2021. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Skynight C-RAM launching unit can be integrated into the Rheinmetall AG’s Skynex Air Defence System that will offer a new air defense system able to destroy standard aerial targets with Oerlikon Revolver Gun® Mk3, while the Skynight can provide protection against rockets, artillery, and mortar rounds. The use of mixed weapon systems now provides a highly effective layered protection shield against a wide spectrum of air threats. A container launcher unit with 60 missiles can be coupled with the Rheinmetall Skynex offering an advanced air defense solution. A total of 16 SkyKnight missiles can be launched from the launcher container in 3.5 seconds. It can be deployed statically for long periods of time and then relocated, or permanently installed in a single location.

The EDGE HALCON’s SkyKnight is designed to counter the full spectrum of modern threats, providing early warning signals and precise surface-to-air intercept capabilities targeting of rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rockets, artillery, mortar, and other fixed-wing aircraft at a range of up to 10 Km.

Able to track and neutralize up to 80 incoming targets at one time, the SkyKnight provides protection for static assets, as well as conditional protection for mobile and mechanized forces. It can handle multiple threats simultaneously and efficiently.

The SkyKnight is purposely designed to counter the full spectrum of modern threats that can be launched from an aircraft against aerial targets with a maximum range of 50 km and warships with a maximum range of 300 km. The missile can be used in day and night and in all weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, dust, or fog.

With the C-RAM SkyKnight, the United Arab Emirates defense industry becomes the second country in the world to develop that type of air defense missile system after the Israeli-made Iron Dome, which uses the Tamir interceptor missile.

The C-RAM offers the advantage to reduce the cost for the destruction of light and small targets and not use other missiles as the MIM-104 Patriot. It is also an economical solution enabling effective selecting handling of critical threats aimed at a predefined defended zone. It can be used to protect cities, towns, and critical infrastructures as well as maneuvering forces and ships.