15 December 2022
Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with Skynex after confirming Qatar delivery
by Nicholas Fiorenza
Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with two Skynex air-defence systems at the beginning of 2024, Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported on 9 December. (Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with Skynex short- and very short-range air-defence systems, Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported on 9 December, citing German government officials.
The report came after Rheinmetall announced in a press release earlier the same day that it would supply an international customer with two Skynex systems at the beginning of 2024. Beat Benz, Rheinmetall Air Defence's manager for ground-based air defence tactical sales support, told Janes on 14 December that each of the Skynex systems – to be supplied to the unnamed international customer – comprises four Revolver Gun Mk 3s, a CN-1 control node, and an X-TAR3D target acquisition and tracking radar.
On 13 December, a Rheinmetall spokesperson declined to confirm to Janes that Ukraine was the customer, citing contractual reasons.
Rheinmetall valued the delivery at EUR182 million (nearly USD194 million), plus approximately EUR12 million for HX trucks to be supplied with the Skynex systems.
The company noted that the Skynex automatic gun-based system is well suited for very short-range air defence for which guided missiles is ineffective. Moreover, the advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) 35 mm programmable rounds fired by Skynex's Revolver Gun Mk 3 are “significantly less expensive than comparable guided missile-based systems” and cannot be interfered with or jammed by electronic countermeasures when fired, according to Rheinmetall.
Meanwhile, Rheinmetall has confirmed that the first Skynex systems it supplied were for Qatar. Responding to a question from Janes
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Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with Skynex short- and very short-range air-defence systems, Germany...
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