Rheinmetall delivers Skynex SHORAD system to Italy

Rheinmetall's Skynex air-defence system, seen with some of its separated fire control and gun components. (Rheinmetall)

Rheinmetall handed over a first Skynex cannon-based short-range air defence (SHORAD) system to the Italian Army, the company announced in December 2025.

Italy's Skynex battery – consisting of a Rheinmetall Italia X-band Tactical Acquisition Radar 3D (X-TAR3D), an Oerlikon Skymaster TLCN fire-control system (FCS), and four 35 mm guns – was handed over to the Italian Army at the Comando Artiglieria Controaeri (Air Defence Artillery Command) in Sabaudia on 18 December.

Italy ordered one Skynex system in January 2025 for EUR73 million (then USD75 million) from Rheinmetall Italia. The contract included an option for three additional systems.

Rheinmetall said in its December release that the X-TAR3D has a range of up to 50 km. A detected air situational picture is displayed in a remote command-and-control (C2) centre. The system is specially designed for counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) operations, including the Revolver Gun Mk3 35 mm, which Rheinmetall says can fire 1,000 rds/min at a range of up to 4 km using its Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) 35 mm programmable rounds.

In December 2023, Romania opted for Skynex fire-control elements in combination with its existing Oerlikon GDF-103 anti-aircraft guns.

For more information, please see Italy selects Skynex air-defence systemand Feature: European NATO members build layered air defence .