Germany announced its latest military aid package to Ukraine on Thursday, January 4, which includes enhanced air defense capabilities, including the Skynex air defense system.
As winter approaches, Zelensky has repeatedly asked his partners for more air defense assets, and Germany has responded to a request that Russia is expected to repeat the previous year's onslaught on civilian infrastructure.
The Federal Republic of Germany last week announced its latest military aid package for Ukraine, which includes a welcome response to Ukraine's request.
The new package, which includes Marder armored vehicles, tanks, 155mm artillery and small** ammunition, minesweeping and bridging tanks, ground surveillance radars, trucks, assault rifles, and other aid, will be announced for delivery to Ukraine on January 4, announced on January 4.
The latest shipment boosts Ukraine's air defenses after Russia launched massive airstrikes on Ukraine during the winter holidays, killing dozens of civilians**. This includes two TRML-4D air surveillance radars, 30 UAV detection systems and missiles for the IRIS-T air defense system.
Another important ** system that attracts attention is the provision of the first of two Skynex air defense systems.
Germany announced in December 2022 that it had signed a contract with the manufacturer to 1The €8.2 billion ($200 million) ** production of two systems will be delivered in early 2024.
In April, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the Skynex air defense system was already operating in Ukraine, but it was not specified from ** and by whom it was provided.
As many expected, with the onset of winter at the end of 2023, Russia launched missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, and with more intensity than last year.
What is Skynex?
Skynex, or more precisely, Skynex is a mobile modular anti-aircraft artillery system manufactured by Rheinmetall.
All of its components are containerized and can be easily transported between firing positions by vehicle, placed on the ground or operated directly from the vehicle.
The Skynex system uses the Oerlikon X-TAR 3D situational awareness and detection radar with a range of up to 50 km, connected through a command post equipped with the Oerlikon SkyMaster information and control system, and can control up to four 35-mm Oerlikon MK 3 Rotary anti-aircraft guns.
The system can operate independently or in close connection with other air defense systems, from which target information can be issued or received, which makes it possible to integrate it into the main air defense architecture of Ukraine.
The artillery is installed in a remote-controlled turret, which includes fire control equipment in the form of a gun mount and optical and radar sights.
Target acquisition and engagement are performed automatically by the built-in fire processor. The system can be controlled remotely from any location and uses a versatile management, command and control solution based on Oerlikon SkyMaster.
The Skynex system is one of the newest short-range air defense systems in the world, which debuted only in 2016. It is armed with a 35mm automatic Oerlikon Left***MK 3 cannon that delivers a variety of 35 228mm rounds.
The standard loading of each gun is 252 shells, which can be fired at a rate of 1000 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 5 km.
According to the manufacturer, Skynex is effective against aircraft, **cruise, anti-radar or anti-ship missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (u** UAVs). Ammunition includes high-explosive and armor-piercing shells.