During Rheinmetall’s latest edition of the 35mm Air Defence Systems Group event in 2021, Rheinmetall presented the Skynex Air Defence System in a truck-mounted version, successfully engaging a swarm of eight small drones with the 35mm Revolver Gun Mk3. Oerlikon Skynex® is the latest air defence concept of Rheinmetall and sets new standards with its unique and open architecture. The Oerlikon Skymaster® Command & Control System forms the centrepiece of the system. Various sensors and effectors can be linked in a modular way in order to fit mission requirements.
Radars, such as the Oerlikon X-TAR3D® provide the air picture, which is consolidated in a remote control node. From there, air targets are assigned to autonomous effectors via the Skymaster network. Besides the high performance Oerlikon Revolver Gun® Mk3, missile based air defence means such as the Cheetah missile launcher can be integrated and controlled as well. Such a weapon mix provides a highly effective layered protection shield against a wide spectrum of air threats.
The X-TAR3D is a three-dimensional tactical acquisition radar working in X-band and performing the functions of short range search, detection, acquisition, tracking, classification and identification of air targets, in order to supply a three-dimensional local air picture to command and control network as well as track and threat data for cueing of fire control systems. X-TAR3D is specifically designed to achieve high performance against a wide range of air threats, from conventional air breathing targets (fixed wing, helicopters) to low and very low cross section objects like stealth and unmanned targets (UAV, cruise missiles), up to rockets and mortar rounds (C-RAM mission).
The Oerlikon Revolver Gun® Mk3 is able to receive and process data from 3D and 2D search radars. The integrated X-Band tracking radar allows an autonomous sector search function which makes target designation simple, fast and reliable. Tracking and engagement is calculated and executed automatically by the integrated fire control processor. Target designation and engagement is over watched and checked in a remotely positioned command and control center.
