The Italian Army has inducted its first Rheinmetall Skynex air defense system, introducing a new generation of networked short-range air defense aimed at countering drones, cruise missiles, and low-altitude aerial threats. Delivered under a €73 million contract signed in January 2025, the system was formally handed over during a ceremony at the Sabaudia air defense artillery base in December. Italy is the first NATO country to deploy Skynex combining the XTAR 3D radar with the 35 mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3, underlining its focus on close-in force and infrastructure protection.
Skynex is structured around the Skymaster command-and-control system, which integrates radar and sensor data to enable rapid threat detection and engagement. The XTAR 3D radar provides a detailed three-dimensional air picture out to 50 km, allowing operators to track everything from conventional aircraft to micro-UAS and rockets. In its standard layout, a Skynex fire unit includes a command post, a radar sensor, and multiple Revolver Gun Mk3 effectors positioned to defend high-value sites and deployed forces.
Each Revolver Gun Mk3 fires AHEAD air-burst ammunition, designed to defeat small, fast, and maneuvering targets by releasing a cone of sub-projectiles directly in their flight path. This approach offers a highly effective solution for counter-UAS and C-RAM missions, where missile-based interceptors may be too costly for sustained use. The system’s ability to engage frequent, low-cost threats makes it particularly relevant in light of lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine.
The early delivery of the first Skynex battery highlights accelerated timelines driven by Europe’s renewed focus on air defense. Rheinmetall Italia has options to deliver three additional Skynex systems, potentially bringing the total program value close to €280 million. With Ukraine and Romania already operating or selecting Skynex-based solutions, Italy’s induction places it at the forefront of NATO’s shift toward gun-based, layered short-range air defense to counter modern drone warfare.
