Germany boosts Ukraine's frontier defense with Skynex system in latest military aid

The aid package to celebrate the new year, gifted by Germany to Ukraine, consists of additional Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles, IRIS-T air defense system missiles, 120 mm tank ammunition for Leopard 2A6 tanks, and the Skynex air defense system. This package would not have stood out had it not been for the Skynex, which was supposed to be operational in Ukraine from April of the previous year, according to Ukraine's Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal. Following this, rumors arose that this system was incomplete. However, it now appears that the Skynex is officially ready to begin operations on the front line.

The Skynex is a very short-range air defense system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence, a German company. It is the last defense against incoming missiles, rockets, or drones.

The system includes an unmanned Skyranger turret module armed with an Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 35 mm (1050 rds/min) automatic cannon, a Skymaster optoelectronic warhead-equipped command and control system, and a three-dimensional X-TAR3D radar station. Theoretically, it can engage targets up to 2.485 miles away and detect objects from distances between 15.5 to 34.2 miles.

As reported, the system handles various threats, including drone swarms and anti-radiation missiles such as the AGM-88 HARM. According to the manufacturer, the system's ease of configuration adjustment for different types of missions and its mobility, especially the ability to place the armament on the chassis of an armored personnel carrier, as an example, is its primary advantage.