More help is on the way for Ukraine.
Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with Skynex short- and very short-range air-defense systems,
Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported on 9 December, citing German government officials.
The report came after Rheinmetall announced in a press release earlier the same day that
it would supply an international customer with two Skynex systems at the beginning of
2024.
Each Skynex system – comprises four Revolver Gun Mk 3s, a CN-1 control node, and X-TAR3D
target acquisition and tracking radar.
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how useful will German Skynex air defense be
for Ukraine?
Let’s get started.
The
Rheinmetall has developed a truck-mounted version of its Skynex air defense system which
is designed to be used as a short-range air defense system able to counter swarm drone
attacks and cruise missiles.
The system was demonstrated in 2021, during the Air Defence Systems Group.
The X-TAR3D is a compact and lightweight air surveillance and target acquisition radar
for short and very short-range air defense systems developed by Rheinmetall Defence.
The X-band X-TAR3D tactical acquisition radar is part of the X-TAR radar family featuring
3D surveillance with functions for search, detection, acquisition, tracking, classification
and identification of air targets.
The data generated by the radar is supplied to command and control (C2) networks and can
serve as cueing fire control systems.
The X-TAR3D radar has been optimized against traditional air targets such as fixed- and
rotary-wing aircraft as well as evolving unmanned and stealth aircraft and cruise missiles which
feature very low radar cross-section and/or fly at very low altitudes
The unmanned Revolver Gun Mk3 combines precision with high firepower, firing up to 1,000 rounds
per minute.
Against aerial targets, the 35mm cannon has a maximum firing range of 3,500 m and 5,000
for land targets.
With its own sensor unit, consisting of a tracking radar, a TV and an IR camera as well
as laser range finders, the gun can take over any in-range air targets assigned and autonomously
track and engage such targets.
Using the programmable 35mm Ahead ammunition, the gun is able to hit even the smallest targets.
Russia has been regularly targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure with missiles and
drones - leaving millions without power, electricity and running water in the middle of winter.
Most Ukrainian power plants, all hydroelectric plants and all thermal power plants have been
hit to a varying extent.
In recent months Ukraine has been supplied with advanced air defense from the West - including
NASAMs and Iris-T systems.
But more is required.
The success of the self-propelled Gepard antiaircraft system in Ukraine underscores the effectiveness
of 35mm gun-based air defense against aerial targets, especially cruise missiles and drones.
This is where the Skynex air defense system comes in and is expected to be used to protect
crucial infrastructure.
Being truck mounted is a very big advantage since this makes the system hard to neutralize
for Russia.