Manufacturer catalog
Rheinmetall Air Defence is Rheinmetall's Swiss-based air-defense manufacturer in Zurich, responsible for cannon-based ground, mobile, naval, and counter-drone air-defense systems under the Oerlikon brand. Its catalog relevance centers on fire-control systems, 35 mm guns, AHEAD ammunition, radars, battle-management networks, missile-launcher integration, simulators, training, and life-cycle support for air-defense equipment.
2 weaponsRheinmetall describes the Zurich company as the group lead for air-defense activities and as one of the world's leading manufacturers of modern air-defense and antiaircraft systems. The company traces its current name to 2009, when Oerlikon Contraves AG was renamed Rheinmetall Air Defence AG while the established Oerlikon product brand continued.
The manufacturer combines legacy Oerlikon cannon-air-defense lines with current short-range and very-short-range systems. Its public portfolio includes Skyguard and Skyshield stationary air-defense families, Skynex networked air defense, Skyranger mobile gun systems, naval self-protection equipment such as Millennium Gun and Searanger, X-TAR3D radars, electro-optical sensors, drone-defense tools, and after-sales support. Rheinmetall also identifies Zurich as a competence and manufacturing center for mechatronics, laser systems, engineering, testing, logistics, and training.
Rheinmetall describes Skynex as an open, modular short-range air-defense system built around the Oerlikon Skymaster battle-management node, networked sensors, and effectors such as Revolver Gun Mk3, GDF009 TREO, missiles, electronic-warfare means, and future high-energy lasers.
Sources: Skynex - Networked air defence, Rheinmetall Air Defence official page
Skyguard is one of Rheinmetall Air Defence's best-known Oerlikon stationary air-defense families; Rheinmetall describes Skyguard 3 as an inner-tier vital-asset protection system with a fire-control unit that can connect gun and missile effectors.
Sources: Stationary air defence, Rheinmetall Air Defence official page
The Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 combines the Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skyranger 35 turret architecture with a Leopard 1 tracked chassis; Rheinmetall identifies the Skyranger family as part of its mobile air-defense portfolio.
Sources: Mobile air defence Skyranger, Rheinmetall Leopard 1 Skyranger UkraineRheinmetall's group history and reference sources record the 1999 acquisition of Oerlikon Contraves as the corporate path that brought the Swiss Oerlikon air-defense business into Rheinmetall.
Sources: Rheinmetall 2025 annual report, Oerlikon Contraves / Rheinmetall Air Defence
Rheinmetall says Oerlikon Contraves AG was renamed Rheinmetall Air Defence AG in 2009, with Oerlikon retained as the established product brand and group air-defense activities concentrated under the Zurich company.
Sources: Rheinmetall Air Defence official page
Rheinmetall states that Rheinmetall Air Defence expanded its laser-products capability in 2016 through integration of I.L.E.E. AG, supporting laser light modules, target-designation lasers, infrared illuminators, tactical lamps, OEM components, and industrial lasers.
Sources: Rheinmetall Air Defence official page
Rheinmetall announced an export order worth about 65 million euros for Oerlikon Skyguard 3 systems, GDF009 twin guns, AHEAD ammunition, additional ammunition, and spares, with deliveries scheduled by 2024.
Sources: Rheinmetall to supply Skyguard 3 air defence systems
Rheinmetall reported handover of Italy's first Skynex system, describing a configuration with XTAR 3D radar, 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk3 effectors, and AHEAD ammunition.
Sources: Rheinmetall hands over first Skynex system to Italy
Rheinmetall Air Defence and Oerlikon names overlap in public product material because Rheinmetall kept Oerlikon as a brand after the 2009 rename. Older catalog attributions may remain under the separate Oerlikon Contraves manufacturer when sources identify the pre-2009 company.
Category
Systems that contest aircraft, missiles, helicopters, and drones.