Italian Army Orders Rheinmetall’s Skynex Air Defense System

The Italian Army has awarded Rheinmetall Italia SpA a contract worth €73 million for the delivery of a Skynex air defense system.

The contract also includes an option for three additional systems, potentially raising the total value to €277 million. The delivery of the pilot system is scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2026, with follow-up systems to be agreed upon by 2027.

The Skynex system, designed for airspace surveillance and defense, includes a sensor and tracking unit, a control station, and four 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3 fire units. It is capable of countering various threats, such as rockets, artillery, mortars, drones, and loitering munitions. The system operates independently and can be integrated with existing air defense assets, such as Rheinmetall’s Skyshield and Skyguard systems.

The system uses Rheinmetall’s XTAR 3D radar, which can monitor airspace up to 50 km away. Its 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3 cannons have a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute and a range of up to four kilometers. The system also uses programmable ammunition resistant to electronic countermeasures, providing a cost-effective alternative to missile-based defense systems.

This move makes Italy the first NATO member state to adopt Skynex with the 35mm Mk3 cannon, joining Romania, which selected Skynex with a different gun type. Skynex systems have already been deployed in Ukraine, where they have been used to protect against air threats in combat conditions.