Skyknight (missile)

Last updated
SkyKnight
Skyknight missle.png
Type Surface-to-air missile
Counter rocket, artillery, and mortar
Place of origin United Arab Emirates
Service history
In service2026 (planned) [1]
Production history
DesignerHalcon Systems
DesignedAugust 2020 [2]
ManufacturerHalcon Systems
Specifications
Mass35 kg (77 lb)
Length2.2 m (7.2 ft)
Diameter115 mm (4.5 in)
Wingspan300 mm (12 in)

Operational
range
10 km (6.2 mi; 5.4 nmi)
Guidance
system
Radar [3]

The SkyKnight is an all-weather multi-target short-range air defence missile. [4] [5] It was developed by Halcon Systems and is the United Arab Emirates' first designed counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missile. SkyKnight is planned to be integrated into Rheinmetall Skynex air defence system. [6] Skynex is a fully networked system of sensors and effectors linked via a tactical communications network to provide a mostly automated layered defence against various aerial threats. Up to four 6.1 m (20 ft)-long SkyKnight missile launcher units (MLU) with 60 rounds each can be controlled in a Skynex battery. An MLU can launch up to five missiles in one second and each can simultaneously fire 20 at one time to neutralize 80 incoming targets. The missiles are capable of intercepting manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters at 10 km (6.2 mi), precision guided munitions (PGMs) and cruise missiles at 6 km (3.7 mi), and RAM projectiles at 4 km (2.5 mi). The Skynex system combines the SkyKnight with up to four Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 35 mm revolver cannons to handle anything that penetrates through the missile defenses. [1] [4] [7]

Contents

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon</span> Mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability

An anti-aircraft vehicle, also known as a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) or self-propelled air defense system (SPAD), is a mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability.

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile(AMRAAM) ( AM-ram) is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. It uses active transmit-receive radar guidance instead of semi-active receive-only radar guidance. When an AMRAAM missile is launched, NATO pilots use the brevity code "Fox Three".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IRIS-T</span> Medium-range infrared homing missile

The IRIS-T is a medium range infrared homing missile available in air-to-air and surface-to-air variants. It also is called AIM-2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIM-23 Hawk</span> American surface-to-air missile family

The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed to be a much more mobile counterpart to the MIM-14 Nike Hercules, trading off range and altitude capability for a much smaller size and weight. Its low-level performance was greatly improved over Nike through the adoption of new radars and a continuous wave semi-active radar homing guidance system. It entered service with the US Army in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASAMS</span> Norwegian surface-to-air missile system

NASAMS is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Raytheon. The system defends against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and fixed wing aircraft, firing any of a wide range of existing missiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oerlikon GDF</span> Autocannon

The Oerlikon GDF or Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves. The system was originally designated 2 ZLA/353 ML but this was later changed to GDF-001. It was developed in the late 1950s and is used by around 30 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyshield</span> Short range air defense system

Skyshield air-defence system is a modular, light weight, short range air defense (SHORAD) system developed by the Swiss corporation Oerlikon Contraves. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pantsir missile system</span> Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon

The Pantsir missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems. Three types of vehicles make up one system: a missile launcher, a radar truck and a command post. Starting with the Pantsir-S1 as the first version, it is produced by KBP Instrument Design Bureau of Tula, Russia, and is the successor to the Tunguska M1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C-RAM</span> Military air defense system

Counter rocket, artillery, and mortar, abbreviated C-RAM or counter-RAM, is a set of systems used to detect and/or destroy incoming rockets, artillery, and mortars before they hit their targets, or provide early warning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun</span> Type of close-in weapon system

The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun or Rheinmetall GDM-008 is a close-in weapon system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG for mounting on ships. It is based on the 35/1000 revolver gun land-based air defense system and uses Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MANTIS Air Defence System</span> Air defence system

MANTIS Air Defence System, formerly titled NBS-C-RAM, is a very short range air defence protection system of the German Air Force, intended for base-protection. It is produced by Rheinmetall Air Defence, a subsidiary of Rheinmetall of Germany. It is a part of the air force's future SysFla air-defence project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KM-SAM</span> South Korean medium range surface-to-air missile

The KM-SAM which is also known as the Cheolmae-2 is a South Korean medium range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system that was developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) with technical support from Almaz-Antey and Fakel, based on technology from the 9M96 missile used on S-350E and S-400 missile systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denel 35 mm Dual Purpose Gun</span> Type of naval close-in weapon system

The Denel 35 mm Dual Purpose Gun (35DPG) is an inner layer of defence (ILD) weapon system for warships built in South Africa by Denel Land Systems. It is currently in service on the Valour-class frigates of the South African Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missile defense systems by country</span>

Missile defense systems are a type of missile defense intended to shield a country against incoming missiles, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or other ballistic missiles. The United States, Russia, India, France, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom, China and Iran have all developed missile defense systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loitering munition</span> Type of guided unmanned aerial vehicle

A loitering munition, also known as a suicide drone, kamikaze drone, or exploding drone, is a kind of aerial weapon with a built-in warhead that is typically designed to loiter around a target area until a target is located, then attack the target by crashing into it. Loitering munitions enable faster reaction times against hidden targets that emerge for short periods without placing high-value platforms near the target area and also allow more selective targeting as the attack can be changed mid-flight or aborted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aselsan GOKDENIZ</span> Turkish anti-aircraft gun

The GOKDENIZ complex along with Aselsan ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition is an all-weather-capable Turkish 35 mm dual barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) developed by Aselsan. It is a CIWS variant of KORKUT Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyranger 30</span> Short-range anti-aircraft defence system

The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defense turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG and first revealed in March 2021. Its role is to provide ground units with a mobile system capable of engaging fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, Group I and II unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions and cruise missiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyranger 35</span> Short-range anti-aircraft defence system

The Skyranger 35 is a short range air defence turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AHEAD ammunition</span> Type of airburst ammunition

Advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) ammunition is a type of airburst round ammunition that releases a cloud of sub-projectiles just ahead of a target, enabling it to engage conventional as well as low, slow and small (LSS) air threats including unmanned aerial vehicles and perform counter rocket, artillery, and mortar duties. The 35 mm variety produced by Oerlikon Contraves splits each projectile into 152 tungsten submunitions "that form a cone-shaped pattern to destroy a target's control surfaces and other vital components". This type of ammunition is listed as an official acronym at the British Ministry of Defence.

References

  1. 1 2 OERLIKON SKYNEX® AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM. Rheinmetall Air Defence . 3 July 2021.
  2. EDGE pioneering SkyKnight air defence missile system details major programme milestones. Air Recognition. 15 November 2021.
  3. From lasers to missiles, IDEX exhibitors are determined to counter drones. Defense News . 23 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 "SkyKnight C-RAM Missile System". Army Technology. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  5. "HALCON Unveils UAE's First Air Defence Missile". www.businesswire.com. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  6. "UAE to Supply First Air Missile Defense to Germany's Rheinmetall". Bloomberg.com. 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  7. Halcon and Rheinmetall Air Defence team up for the Skynex. European Defence Review. 8 March 2021.