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Germany Rheinmetall
Skynex
A German short-range, ground-based air-defense system built around a networked 35 mm revolver gun firing programmable airburst ammunition, designed to counter drones, cruise missiles and rockets at the point-defense level. Selected by Germany to protect critical infrastructure against drone threats.
In service since 2020 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
4
km range
3,000
m altitude
20
km radar
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
German export-licensed
BAFA licensing with strict end-use review; approvals can be politically constrained.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2020. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 4 km |
|---|---|
| Engagement altitude Maximum target altitude the system can reach. | 3,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 35 mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 with AHEAD airburst ammunition |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 35 mm |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Radar-directed fire control |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Multi-function search and tracking radar |
|---|---|
| Radar range Published detection range against a typical fighter-sized target. Higher sees first. | 20 km |
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
| Caliber Bore diameter the round is fired from. | 35 mm |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Rheinmetall and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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See how it stacks up
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Skynex vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the engagement range of the Rheinmetall Skynex? +
The Rheinmetall Skynex has a maximum engagement range of 4 km.
What is the main armament of the Rheinmetall Skynex? +
The Rheinmetall Skynex's primary weapon is the 35 mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 with AHEAD airburst ammunition.
What is the Rheinmetall Skynex used for? +
The Rheinmetall Skynex is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the Rheinmetall Skynex? +
The Rheinmetall Skynex is operated by 1 countries.
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