The Italians have decided to order the Skynex point defense system from the German company Rheinmetall, which is used, among other places, in Ukraine to defend Kyiv. Here's what it can do. According to Rheinmetall, the Italians have decided to order one battery of the system for 73 million euros, with an option for three additional systems worth 204 million euros. The delivery of the first battery is expected by the second quarter of 2026, and the additional three, if Italy chooses to utilize the option, can be ordered in 2027. Besides the systems themselves, the signed agreement also includes ammunition, training and maintenance services, as well as spare parts.

Europe’s defense industry must consolidate to bolster production as the region faces Russian aggression and calls from Donald Trump to strengthen its military, Rheinmetall AG Chief Executive Officer Armin Papperger said.

The German defense company Rheinmetall has already delivered the latest infantry fighting vehicle KF41 Lynx to Ukraine. This took place at the end of 2024, Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger shared this information with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. According to Papperger, the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle delivered to Ukraine at the end of 2024 was manufactured by Rheinmetall's factory in the German community of Unterlüß.