Rheinmetall has received a contract to upgrade an international customer’s Skyguard 35-millimeter cannon-based anti-aircraft systems.
The agreement includes the provision of ammunition and related equipment for the Skyguard batteries.
Work for the program will cost in the “low three-digit million-euro range” and will commence this year.
Skyguard’s GDF009 Configuration
According to Rheinmetall, the contract will modernize the customer’s Skyguard air defense to the latest Oerlikon GDF009 standard.
The configuration enables users to deploy Ahead ammunition, a programmable projectile that can be fitted into automatic cannons against fast aerial threats and small drones.
Each Ahead round comprises 152 tungsten sub-projectiles that are ejected based on velocity to control impact with targets.
“The contract is of great importance to Rheinmetall. It not only strengthens a strategic customer relationship that has existed for decades, but also underscores the high degree of confidence in Rheinmetall’s world-leading expertise in the field of ground-based air defence,” a statement from Rheinmetall said.
Previous International Skyguard Contract
In 2022, Rheinmetall signed a deal with another international customer to supply Skyguard 3 air defense systems at the GDF009 standard.
The agreement is worth 65 million euros ($70 million) and includes the delivery of associated spare parts and ammunition.
