Skyshield Air-defence system is a modular, light weight, Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) system developed by the Swiss corporation Oerlikon Contraves (now a subsidiary of Rheinmetall of Germany). The successor to the Skyguard defense system, Skyshield is intended to rapidly acquire and destroy threatening aircraft and missiles, as well as to fulfill a C-RAM role.[1]

Design

The weapons system itself consists of two 35 mm (1.38 inch) revolver cannons with a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute, a fire control system made up of a sensor unit and a detached command post. The Skyshield can also use up to two surface-to-air missile 8-cell modules for an expanded air defense capability. The Skyshield is designed for traditional anti-aircraft roles in addition to defense against missiles (see anti-ballistic missile).

The Skyshield is easily deployed by trucks and other transportation systems.

The fire control system (FCS) uses an X-band search and tracking radar X-TAR-3D,[2] and another unit for radar/TV and/or laser/FLIR precision tracking. The command post can be placed up to 500 meters, roughly, from the fire control unit (FCU), using encrypted radio-waves. The Skyshield system can also be networked with other air defense systems for wider and more effective air coverage, expanding its roles from point defense to area defense.

Radars for the acquisition and tracking of air and surface targets, named Oerlikon Tracking Module TMX Mk2 and TMKu Mk2, operated in X and Ku band respectively. [3]

Variants

A modified and improved version of Skyshield with six fully automated turrets, dubbed MANTIS (Modular, Automatic and Network capable Targeting and Interception System) has been ordered by the German Army as a stationary base defence system. Two systems were delivered in 2011,[4] with more orders being planned as a part of German Army's future "SysFla" air defence program.

A mobile version called Oerlikon Skyranger has been demonstrated with the turret fitted to a Boxer armoured fighting vehicle.[5]

Adoption

South Africa has signed a contract with Rheinmetall to modernize the country's existing short-range air defence (SHORAD) systems, the company announced on 27 March 2014. The contract encompasses the supply of Oerlikon Skyshield fire control units, which will substantially improve the performance and accuracy of South Africa’s current twin-gun systems as well as significantly expanding the operational spectrum of its air defence capabilities. South Africa currently operates 102 GDF-002 and 48 modified GDF-005 units. In this context, a number of the twin-gun systems will also be retrofitted with upgrade kits to accommodate Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art AHEAD Anti-missile programmable ammunition including logistics and training services, the complete package is scheduled for completion by 2017.

Indonesia also operates the Skyshield, and signed a second contract for additional deliveries in November 2018.[6]

See also

• List of artillery
• Anti-aircraft guns
• MANTIS - the very short-range protection system of the German Army within the "SysFla" program.
• Phalanx CIWS - A land based stand alone model of the Phalanx Weapon System called the Centurion CRAM were deployed to the Middle East by the United States in 2008.

References

External links

• The Oerlikon website

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