Rheinmetall’s Skynex Deployed to Ukraine
The Rheinmetall Skynex Air Defence System is now operational in Ukraine. Acquisition of the system was funded by the German government as part of an aid package worth $174 Million (USD) back in December 2022. The first of two systems arrived on the 31 December, 2023, with the second expected in March later this year. Delivery of the defense system was underpinned by Russia’s continuous use of drones and missiles to strike Ukrainian key infrastructure. Prior to this Ukraine was operating mainly cold-war era Gepard Systems.
The system is 8 years old, its major competitive edge being its cost relative to the US Patriot Air Defence system, which comes in at $1.1 Billion each. This is unsurprising as the system is cannon-based and focused on countering smaller threats such as drones and mortars. Shells fired will approach their target and open dispersing a cloud of tungsten cylinders, guaranteeing a hit. These calculations are carried out by electronics in the cannon which program the opening of the shell according to speed, distance, and trajectory of the target.
The arrival of the system in Ukraine has also increased sales for the air-defense system. Romania placed a €328 million (EURO) order this month and Austria has also signed a deal valued at €532 million. Rheinmetall Italia CEO Alessandro Ercolani would state that “the signing of the Ukraine contract was an important factor in winning the Austrian and Romanian deals.” Furthermore, Ercolani has touted that further deals with an unnamed NATO and Middle Eastern nation are in the works.