All about Skynex, Ukraine's new 'Made in Germany' drone killers that fires 1,000 rounds per minute

Ukraine has released videos of its new drone killers, the German-made Skynex air defense systems, which are proving crucial in intercepting Russian Shahed drones.

As per Ukraine’s Air Force Command, the Rheinmetall-developed Skynex short-range air defense (SHORAD) system has been consistently effective in neutralizing incoming unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Though the exact locations of the latest intercepts remain undisclosed, reports claimed that the system’s performance exceeded expectations during one of Ukraine’s most intense drone defense operations to date.



Reportedly on the night of July 11–12, Ukrainian air defense units downed 319 Shahed drones and 25 cruise missiles. The newly released video shows Skynex in action, intercepting at least seven drones with rapid precision.

All about Skynex

Introduced in 2021 by German defense giant Rheinmetall, Skynex is specifically designed to counter drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided threats. In Ukraine, it's deployed to defend key infrastructure, such as airfields and critical facilities.


At the heart of Skynex is the Oerlikon Mk3 — a 35mm automatic cannon that can fire up to 1,000 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 4 kilometers. It uses advanced AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction) ammunition, which explodes in mid-air to unleash sub-projectiles that destroy aerial targets like drones.

Each Skynex battery includes four gun modules, a command post, and a radar unit for target detection and coordination. Each gun is equipped with its own radar and electro-optical targeting system, allowing for autonomous threat engagement.

Rheinmetall emphasizes that the cost-effective AHEAD rounds—estimated at about €4,000 per engagement—are ideal against swarms of low-cost drones and are less vulnerable to electronic jamming compared to missile-based systems like IRIS-T.

Germany reportedly sold two Skynex systems to Ukraine in 2024 at a cost of €182 million. These remain the only operational Skynex units in use anywhere in the world.