Rheinmetall bags Oerlikon Skyguard upgrade order
Rheinmetall Air Defence has been awarded a major modernisation order for the Oerlikon Skyguard air defence system of the Swiss armed forces, the company announced on 18 May.
The multi-million euro order will see the company upgrade the guns and fire control units of the 35mm, medium-calibre Oerlikon Skyguard through to 2019.
The contract also covers the overhaul of associated command and control systems in the operations centre and additional spare parts. The modernisation aims to extend the service life of the Skyguard to at least 2025.
Rheinmetall Air Defence will be serving as general contract, responsible for the service life extension work. At the request of the customer, the Swiss federal procurement agency, the company has assigned various tasks to Swiss partner RUAG Aviation.
The Oerlikon Skyguard is part of the Swiss air force's short-range, ground-based air defence systems, which also include the Rapier surface-to-air missile and Stinger guided missile.
All three systems are set to reach the end of their service life in the next few years. The Skyguard's service life extension programme aims to avoid a capabilities gap before a successor system for short-range, ground-based air defence is introduced.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy]()
US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy
As the US Department of Defense looks to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems to improve homeland security, the DroneHunter acquisition could point to future commercial innovation.
-
![Land forces review: Tanks, trucks and IFVs dominate but woes remain for Ajax]()
Land forces review: Tanks, trucks and IFVs dominate but woes remain for Ajax
This year has begun with main battle tanks taking the lead while orders for large logistics and support vehicles continued from last year. Additionally, two of the British Army’s most significant contracted vehicle programmes, Ajax reconnaissance vehicle and Challenger 3 tank, continued to make news in January.
-
![Canada looking to expedite purchase of armoured fighting vehicle and a new tank]()
Canada looking to expedite purchase of armoured fighting vehicle and a new tank
Canada is improving its Leopard main battle tank fleet but before this is fully completed, it is expected to begin looking for new vehicles.
-
![Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)]()
Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)
A surge in aerial threats – from advanced missiles to low-cost drones – is reshaping the way militaries approach air defence, driving demand for flexible, multi-layered solutions.
-
![UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3]()
UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3
In a bid to accelerate delivery of the British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank, which has just carried out its first crewed firings with the latest Rheinmetall 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the UK has opted for an unconventional approach.
