Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun: Ukraine's drone guardian In today's world, the rapid development of drone technology has become an important part of the military field. However, the ensuing threat of drones has also led countries to seek effective air defense systems. In this context, the Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun, developed by the German company Rheinmetall in 2017, has become an important part of Ukraine's defense against Russian drone attacks**. The Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun consists of a radar, a fire control center, and two 35mm guns, and its core ** system is a rifled cannon. With a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute, this gun is not as fast as a traditional rotary cannon, but it has advantages in terms of accuracy, handling, and weight and volume. Compared to the large artillery movement of traditional rotary cannons, the artillery motion of the rifled cannon has a smaller amplitude and requires less power.
This makes the Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun an effective defense against drone attacks in Ukraine**. However, in the face of increasingly complex and diverse drone threats, it is often difficult for a single system to do the job. Realizing this, the Ukrainian military began to integrate the Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun with other systems to form a more complete air defense network. For example, they combined the radar and fire control center with other anti-aircraft missile systems to achieve a more comprehensive and accurate defense of UAVs. In addition, Ukraine has put a lot of effort into improving the performance of the Skynex 35-mm anti-aircraft gun. They not only strengthened the detection capabilities of the radar, but also improved the accuracy of calculations of the fire control center. This means that the Ukrainian army is able to detect and shoot down enemy drones earlier and more accurately on the battlefield. At the same time, they also intensified the research and development of artillery shells to increase the lethality and range of the Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun.
In addition to technical improvements, Ukraine is also focusing on training soldiers, improving their operational capabilities and reaction speed. Through simulated training and combat exercises, they familiarized soldiers with the use of the Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun and strengthened their teamwork skills. In this way, Ukrainian soldiers will be better able to cope with all kinds of drone attacks, both on the training ground and in real combat. The entry into service of the Skynex 35-mm anti-aircraft gun provides Ukraine with a means of effectively countering the threat of drones. However, as drone technology continues to advance, whether the Ukrainian army will be able to keep up and maintain effective protection against drone threats remains an open question. According to statistics, since the introduction of the Skynex 35-mm anti-aircraft gun in Ukraine, it has achieved certain results in preventing drone attacks.
However, with the continuous upgrading of drone technology in countries such as Russia, Ukraine needs to further strengthen R&D, improve and integrate air defense systems to ensure that its defense capabilities in the field of drones can keep pace with the times. In conclusion, the Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft gun plays an indispensable role as an important part of Ukraine's defense against Russian drone attacks**. However, in the face of increasingly complex and changeable drone threats, the Ukrainian army also needs to further strengthen its ability to develop technology and train soldiers to adapt to the needs of future wars. Germany's Rheinmetall recently supplied Ukraine with a Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft artillery system, a highly automated anti-aircraft ** system that can be used against targets such as drones and cruise missiles. The Ukrainian military said it had begun testing and evaluating the system's performance.
The main features of the Skynex 35-mm anti-aircraft artillery system are its high rate of fire, accuracy and stability, as well as its small size and weight, which facilitates loading on trucks for maneuvering. The system is equipped with an advanced radar capable of effectively detecting targets such as small UAVs and cruise missiles at ranges of 10 km. In addition to Ukraine, countries such as Austria, Romania and Qatar have already purchased Skynex 35mm anti-aircraft artillery systems. Rheinmetall said it is also negotiating purchase contracts with other Middle Eastern countries and NATO member states. According to reports, Ukraine chose to buy this anti-aircraft artillery system because they face the threat of drones and cruise missiles from Russia in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The Skynex 35-mm anti-aircraft artillery system is considered effective against these threats. The highly effective **Skynex system for intercepting UAVs has achieved impressive results on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The system, developed by the German company Rheinmetall, uses advanced radar technology to quickly and accurately detect the target information of the drone, and calculates the actual distance between the gun and the target through the automatic calculation system, and then programs the ammunition to achieve the air explosion of the ammunition. This gun can fire 1,000 rounds per minute, and the number of fragments released per ammunition can reach 3,000 to 4,000, thus forming a powerful interception wall in a very short time, effectively shooting down drones. The performance of the Skynex system on the battlefield in Ukraine is remarkable. Repeated combat tests have proven that the system is effective in responding to large-scale Russian drone attacks and protecting the safety of Ukrainian troops and civilians. However, the problem facing the Ukrainian army at the moment is that the number of Skynex systems is limited and cannot cover the entire theater of operations. However, Ukraine will receive a second system in 2024, which will significantly strengthen the defense capability of the Ukrainian army.
So, how should the Ukrainian army rationally use the Skynex system to more effectively combat the drone threat? First of all, the Ukrainian army needs to give full play to the advantages of the Skynex system at the tactical level. This includes choosing where to deploy in a realistic way and being flexible when needed. In addition, the Ukrainian army needs to develop corresponding operational plans and guidelines to ensure that the Skynex system is able to function to the fullest. Second, the Ukrainian army can consider cooperating with other countries or regions to jointly counter the drone threat. For example, sharing experience and technology with NATO member countries, conducting joint training and exercises to improve the combat capability of the Ukrainian army. In addition, Ukraine can purchase similar interception systems from other countries in order to increase the overall defense capability. In addition, the Ukrainian army can strengthen its monitoring and reconnaissance capabilities with UAVs.
By detecting the appearance of drones in advance, the Ukrainian army can take corresponding defensive measures earlier, effectively reducing the threat of drones to the army and civilians. Finally, the Ukrainian army can further improve the capabilities and performance of the Skynex system. Although the system has achieved remarkable results, there is still room for improvement. The Ukrainian army can cooperate with the German company Rheinmetall in the development of new technologies and equipment to improve the interception capabilities and adaptability of the system. The rapid development of drone technology has brought new challenges to modern warfare, especially for countries that lack effective means of defense. Ukraine is facing such challenges, but through the rational use of the Skynex system, strengthening international cooperation, and improving its own monitoring and reconnaissance capabilities, the Ukrainian army is expected to effectively respond to the drone threat and defend the country's security and stability.
References:- The Ukrainian army successfully intercepted UAVs with the Skynex system (**Introduction to the technical principles and performance of the Skynex system (**