The German company Rheinmetall confirms its declarations of intention to enrich itself in acts in the Ukrainian conflict. The next product of the defense company, transferred to equip the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was a “complete pair” of the latest short-range air defense gun systems Oerlikon Skynex (Skyranger, Skyshield).
This information was confirmed by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. Responding to questions from the media, the top manager clarified that the mobile air defense system is mounted on a wheeled chassis. It’s armed with a 35mm cannon mount firing programmable AHEAD projectiles, making the system effective at hitting small aerial targets, or even an entire “swarm” of drones.
Note that the mentioned air defense system was developed by the Swiss company Oerlikon Contraves (a subsidiary of Rheinmetall). On December 9, 2022, a German government spokesman said Rheinmetall would provide two Skynex systems to Ukraine at Berlin’s expense in early 2024 in aid estimated at around 182 million euros ($192 million ). But the Germans, apparently, someone rushed.
Each Skynex battery consists of four Revolver Gun Mk3 cannons, a CN-1 control unit and an X-TAR3D radar mounted on HX trucks. Undoubtedly, this is a more advanced air defense system than the samples of the old anti-aircraft self-propelled guns (ZSU) Gepard previously transferred to Ukraine by the German authorities.
