The German Skynex anti-aircraft artillery complex manufactured by Rheinmetall demonstrated low combat effectiveness during the repelling of a Russian air strike in western Ukraine. Due to technical malfunctions, the high-tech system was unable to shoot down an enemy drone.
The German Skynex anti-aircraft artillery complex manufactured by Rheinmetall demonstrated low combat effectiveness during the repelling of a Russian air strike in western Ukraine. Due to technical malfunctions, the high-tech system was unable to shoot down an enemy drone.
As the publication «Military» reports with reference to the German weekly Stern, information about this incident is contained in an internal report of the Ukrainian military. The document describes the results of the combat work of the complexes during the attack of a Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drone on an industrial facility, which took place on April 1, 2026.
The site was protected by two Skynex systems, consisting of eight 35 mm artillery mounts, two radar stations and two command posts. Despite the fact that the air defense had several opportunities to intercept, the Russian drone was able to hit the target. The fact that the drone was hit was confirmed by two independent participants in the events.
The authors of the report attribute the failure to complete the combat mission to a complex of technical malfunctions and failures in the target tracking system. Within a few minutes of the battle, three of the eight available anti-aircraft guns failed. Among the reasons for the equipment failure, the military recorded defects in the hydraulic system, malfunctions in the tracking radar, and jamming of the loading mechanism. In the end, only two guns were able to stably track the air target.
The Ukrainian military concluded that the German equipment showed low readiness for use and worked «extremely unreliable.» The report noted that the actual parameters of the complex did not correspond to the manufacturer’s stated technical specifications.
Rheinmetall representatives declined to comment on specific details of the combat use of the system for security reasons, but completely denied the accusations. A spokesman for the German concern said that this weapon had previously demonstrated itself in Ukraine as «extremely effective and reliable,» and the company had received positive feedback directly from the Ukrainian side.
At the same time, German military officials suggested that the failure of the equipment could have been caused by errors by maintenance personnel. They also noted that too few units have been deployed to the front to draw definitive conclusions about the quality of Skynex.
The head of the «Return Alive» charitable foundation, Taras Chmut, reacted to the information. On the social network X (Twitter), he confirmed the existence of problems with the German system.
«I’m glad that this information didn’t come from me. I’m not glad that the super-hyped equipment, including by us, is not that effective in reality. Of course, there are questions about the quality and training of the personnel (personnel — ed. note), understanding of the conditions of use, etc. But the fact that Skynex did not show itself in the best way in our war is a fact,» Chmut wrote .
Recall that the cost of two Skynex systems is estimated at up to 200 million euros. The system is equipped with a radar with a range of 50 km, a command post and four guns, each of which is equipped with electro-optical sensors and a tracking radar. The guns are capable of firing 1,000 35-mm rounds per minute, hitting a target at a distance of 4 km.
As they approach their target, the system’s 35 mm shells open, releasing hundreds of small tungsten cylinders that form a destructive cloud. To ensure the shells open at the right moment, their velocity is checked by a sensor as they leave the gun barrel, and electronics in the barrel program the time for the shell to open accordingly.
