Italian MoD signed a contract with Rheinmetall Italia to purchase four Skynex air defense systems in a Counter Rockets, Artillery, and Mortars (C-RAM) static configuration. General Carmine Masiello’s earlier visit to Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A. headquarters in Rome on December 17, 2024, confirmed the intention to equip Italian forces with these systems, aligning with details in the Multi-Year Programming Document 2024–2026.
A complete Skynex system comprises four Revolver Gun Mk3 35mm cannons, each capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute with a range of up to 4 kilometers. It utilizes programmable 35mm Ahead ammunition, which is resistant to electronic countermeasures, ensuring precise target engagement.
Within this document, €400 million are forecasted for the overall requirement, with €80 million spread over four years currently financed by the defense budget. The plan includes the systems, their ten-year integrated logistics support, ammunition, trucks, communication and information systems, and infrastructure adaptations. The aim is to counter rockets, artillery, mortars, unmanned aircraft systems, and loitering munitions, thereby providing very short-range protection for personnel and critical infrastructure in Italy and for contingents deployed abroad. These four C-RAM systems fulfill commitments made to the Alliance and are described in the Defense Planning Document (DPP) as Skynex, a Rheinmetall-produced system that integrates separate airspace surveillance components and effectors, accommodates radar technologies from multiple manufacturers, and employs programmable 35 mm Ahead ammunition resistant to electronic countermeasures.