Rheinmetall Delivers First Skynex Air Defence System to Italy

Rheinmetall has completed the handover of the first Skynex air defence system to the Italian Army, marking a major milestone in Italy’s short-range air defence modernisation. The transfer, carried out on 18 December 2025 at the Comando Artiglieria Controaeri base in Sabaudia, introduces a new capability to defend against air threats at close and very close range.

Enhancing Short-Range Air Defence Capability

The Skynex system is designed to counter emerging aerial threats, with a particular focus on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The growing prominence of drones in modern conflicts, including urban warfare, has highlighted gaps in traditional air defence structures. Rheinmetall positions Skynex as a rapid-response, cannon-based solution capable of engaging small, fast and low-flying targets in complex operational environments.

The company states that the system is optimised for scenarios in which missile-based air defence may be less effective or economically unsustainable, offering a combination of operational resilience, high availability and cost efficiency.

Contract Background And Programme Scope

The handover follows a January 2025 order placed by Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A. for an initial Skynex system valued at €73 million. The contract includes options for three additional systems, potentially raising the total programme value to €204 million.

Italy has become the first NATO member state to introduce the Skynex air defence system. Rheinmetall has described the order as a strategic reference programme, supporting its objective of establishing Skynex as a new international standard for cannon-based air defence.

System Configuration And Firepower

At the core of Skynex is the 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3, a high-performance weapon developed for short-range air defence missions. The gun delivers a firing rate of up to 1,000 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to four kilometres, enabling the engagement of a wide spectrum of aerial threats.

A key element of the system is its use of programmable AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition, which releases a precisely calculated cloud of sub-projectiles in front of the target. This significantly increases the probability of kill against small and manoeuvrable targets and remains resistant to electronic countermeasures, a critical advantage in electronically contested environments.

Sensors, Radar And Networked Integration

The Skynex architecture separates airspace surveillance from effectors, allowing for a flexible and scalable system design. In the Italian configuration, the system is paired with Rheinmetall’s XTAR 3D radar, capable of monitoring airspace at distances of up to 50 kilometres.

The radar provides early warning and target tracking, with data fed into a centralised command-and-control network. Skynex’s modular, open architecture enables the integration of multiple sensors, effectors and existing air defence assets into a single networked framework, supporting future growth and interoperability with allied forces.

Outlook

With the first Skynex system now formally delivered, the Italian Army is expected to begin integration, testing and training activities ahead of operational deployment. For Rheinmetall, the delivery underscores its ambition to position Skynex as a globally relevant solution at a time when the protection of forces and critical infrastructure from low-altitude air threats has become an increasingly urgent defence priority.