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Italy selects Skynex air-defence system

By Nicholas Fiorenza |

Italy has ordered a Skynex air-defence system from Rheinmetall, with an option for three more. (Rheinmetall)

The Italian Army has selected the Skynex short- and very-short-range air-defence system from Rheinmetall, the company announced in a press release on 15 January.

The order placed with Rheinmetall is worth EUR73 million (USD75 million), with an option for three more systems worth EUR204 million until 2027. Delivery of the system is scheduled to be completed during the second quarter of 2026.

Designed for national defence and the protection of deployed forces from missiles, artillery, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and loitering munitions, a Skynex system consists of a sensor and tracking unit for air surveillance, a control station for command and control, and four 35 mm guns. On 16 January a Rheinmetall spokesperson confirmed to Janes that the sensor and tracking unit was the Rheinmetall Italia X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar 3D (X-TAR3D) and the control station an Oerlikon Skymaster TLCN fire-control system (FCS).

Italy is the first NATO member to order Skynex with the 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk3. The weapon has a rate of fire of 1,000 rds/min and a range of up to 4 km using advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) 35 mm programmable rounds that Rheinmetall said are resistant to electronic countermeasures and ensure precise target engagement, as well as being much more cost-effective than comparable missile-based systems. The X-TAR3D can monitor airspace within a radius of 50 km.

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