Italian army receives Skynex weapon system

The Italian Army has taken delivery of its first Skynex air defense system from Rheinmetall.

According to a press release from Rheinmetall, the first Skynex battery was officially handed over on Dec. 18, 2025, at the Italian Army’s Air Defence Artillery Command in Sabaudia. The system gives Italy the ability to defend against air attacks at close and very close range, with a particular focus on countering unmanned aerial systems.

The Italian Army said the system is intended to address threats that have become increasingly visible in recent conflicts, especially the widespread use of drones in urban and frontline environments. As seen in the war in Ukraine, short-range air defense has become a central requirement for protecting forces, infrastructure, and civilian areas.

Rheinmetall said the delivery follows a contract awarded in January 2025 to its Italian subsidiary, Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A., based in Rome. The initial contract is valued at €73 million and includes an option for three additional Skynex systems. The company did not disclose when a decision on exercising the option might be made.

Italy is the first NATO member state to introduce Rheinmetall’s Skynex technology in its standard configuration, including the 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3. Rheinmetall said this makes the Italian Army the first alliance user to field the complete Skynex solution as delivered by the company.

As noted by Rheinmetall, NATO member Romania has also selected Skynex, but in combination with a different gun system already in service with Romanian forces, the GDF-009 twin gun. Rheinmetall added that Skynex systems are already in operational use with the Ukrainian armed forces, where they are employed to protect people and infrastructure from airborne threats under combat conditions.

The Skynex system is a cannon-based air defense solution designed for scenarios where missile-based systems are less effective or cost-efficient. The Revolver Gun Mk3 fires 35mm ammunition at a rate of up to 1,000 rounds per minute and has an effective range of up to four kilometers. The system uses programmable AHEAD ammunition, which Rheinmetall says is resistant to electronic countermeasures and allows precise engagement of aerial targets.

Rheinmetall said that, from a cost perspective, the 35mm ammunition is more efficient than comparable missile-based interceptors, particularly when engaging drones and other low-cost aerial threats. The company pointed to operational experience in Ukraine as evidence of the system’s effectiveness against drones and cruise missiles.

Skynex is built around a modular architecture that separates airspace surveillance from the firing units. Italy selected a configuration that includes Rheinmetall’s XTAR 3D radar, which can monitor airspace out to a radius of up to 50 kilometers. Data from the radar is fed into a command-and-control network that assigns targets to available effectors.

According to Rheinmetall, the system’s modularity allows sensors and effectors to be connected based on mission needs. Skynex is designed to integrate a wide range of modern air defense components, provided a dedicated tracking unit is available. Existing Rheinmetall systems, including the Skyshield and Skyguard families, can also be incorporated into the Skynex architecture as firing units.