Rheinmetall has been contracted by the Austrian defence ministry to upgrade its existing Skyguard air defence systems, in a deal worth €532 million (without value added tax).
At the contract signing in Vienna, Austrian minister of defence Klaudia Tanner was in attendance. The 48-month project is set to begin in February 2024 and will include the modernization of 28 35mm guns, spare parts, training support and 35mm ammunition.
Rheinmetall AG Chairman Armin Papperger expressed his delight at the news: “We’re delighted by this important market win for Skynex technology. In this flagship project, Austria is at the absolute forefront of antiaircraft and counter-drone defence in Europe. This major order also highlights Rheinmetall’s key role in reequipping the armed forces of Europe in response to new threats. Our solutions for stationary and mobile air defence are part of this.”
The order package consists of seven tactical units, each consisting of four 35mm guns, a sensor unit for monitoring airspace and a command post. It also includes an option for ordering an additional tactical unit.
Rheinmetall Air Defence CEO Oliver Dürr commented: “We greatly appreciate the trust of our friends and partners in Austria. The Austrian Army’s decision in favour of Skyguard Next Generation is more than just a quantum leap – it opens the door to a whole dimension in antiaircraft and counter-drone capabilities. This order is a significant gain for our company and especially for our Zürich plant, which is responsible for carrying out the project, where it will make a decisive contribution to capacity utilization.”
The Skyguard Next Generation system belongs to the Skynex family of products from Rheinmetall Air Defence, the global leader in close-range air defence technology. It features extraordinarily high-precision sensors and is highly mobile, assuring maximum efficiency during military planning.
The Austrian Army’s decision to upgrade its existing Skyguard air defence systems with the Skynex family of products from Rheinmetall Air Defence has been hailed as a major win. The €532 million (without value added tax) order encompasses a 48-month project period starting in February 2024, and includes the modernization of 28 35mm guns, spare parts, training support and 35mm ammunition.
Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG, welcomed the news: “We’re delighted by this important market win for Skynex technology. In this flagship project, Austria is at the absolute forefront of antiaircraft and counter-drone defence in Europe. This major order also highlights Rheinmetall’s key role in reequipping the armed forces of Europe in response to new threats. Our solutions for stationary and mobile air defence are part of this.”
CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG in Zürich, Oliver Dürr, added: “We greatly appreciate the trust of our friends and partners in Austria. The Austrian Army’s decision in favour of Skyguard Next Generation is more than just a quantum leap – it opens the door to a whole dimension in antiaircraft and counter-drone capabilities. This order is a significant gain for our company and especially for our Zürich plant, which is responsible for carrying out the project, where it will make a decisive contribution to capacity utilization.”
The Skyguard Next Generation system is based on existing weapons systems owned by the Austrian Army and is designed specifically for short-range operations. It features a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute and a maximum effective range of up to 4,000 metres, as well as a high-performance target tracking capability and Rheinmetall’s Skymaster command system.
Rheinmetall has been awarded a €532 million contract by the Austrian defence ministry to upgrade the country’s existing Skyguard air defence systems. The 48-month project, which is set to begin in February 2024, is a major market win for Rheinmetall’s Skynex technology, which is considered to be the global leader in close-range air defence.
At the contract signing in Vienna, Austrian minister of defence Klaudia Tanner was in attendance. The order package includes the modernization of 28 35mm guns, spare parts, training support and 35mm ammunition, as well as an option for ordering an additional tactical unit.
Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG, said: “In this flagship project, Austria is at the absolute forefront of antiaircraft and counter-drone defence in Europe. This major order also highlights Rheinmetall’s key role in re
