09/04/2006
 

Oerlikon Contraves' Skyshield 35

Ahead Air Defence System provides full low-level air defence including anti-missile capability

Skyshield 35 – The Ahead air defence system, newly developed and built by Oerlikon Contraves – a member of Rheinmetall Defence –, provides advanced technology and exceptional fire power to meet the demanding requirements of today's and tomorrow's low-level air defence. This modern, cannon-based, anti-missile air defence system with fully integrated Ahead technology has the capabilities needed for the defence of vital point and area targets against supersonic and subsonic air attack weapons, ranging from tactical aircraft, attack helicopters, cruise missiles, and remotely-piloted air vehicles to precision-guided munitions.

The Skyshield 35 Fire Unit is small, lightweight and compact in design. The major elements are two 35/1000 Revolver Guns and a Fire Control Unit, consisting of the Sensor Unit with a detached Command Post.

The Skyshield 35 - Ahead fire unit's main components offer maximum crew protection and are of small, compact, lightweight, and modular design. These main components include two remotely controlled 35 mm revolver gun mounts, complemented with a fire control unit, consisting of the unmanned sensor unit with a detached command post housing the two operators for complete command and control of the fire unit.

The Skyshield 35 Gun Air Defence System is technically and tactically also designed to be used for object defence against small air targets in the frame of «Field Camp Protection» and/or «Homeland Security» applications.

The sensor unit is highly ECM resistant and its multiple beam search radar and tracking radar are x-band pulse doppler. Target detection alarm with track-while-scan and threat evaluation, followed by handover to the tracking sensors is done fully automatically. Its multi-sensor tracking unit is a combined radar plus TV/Laser/IR module with high sensor dynamics for interference-free precision tracking.

The availability of 228 rounds ready-to-fire 35 mm ammunition per gun mount provides for a largely autonomous operation (approx. 20 stored engagement bursts) to counter attacks including those with high saturation rate. The reloading of the linkless ammunition can be done easily and quickly with a minimum of manpower. The gas-operated 35/1000 revolver cannon allows the firing of all compatible types of 35 mm ammunition.

The Skyshield 35 - Ahead air defence system's ultra short reaction time (detection to firing below 4.5 sec.) and great accuracy, combined with each gun's high rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds/min. and the short 35 mm ammunition projectile flight time, provide the required high fire power also needed for outstanding multi-target engagement capability with high kill probabilities.

The main units have pallet-concept base frames of ISO standard (2.44mx3.00m) and are fitted with corners and fasteners for lifting slingsets. This provides wide flexibility with regard to land and air transportation, for deployment from centralized storage locations to places of urgency and/or redeployment as required.

Skyshield 35 - Ahead fire units in a tactical deployment can be integrated into a C4I system and/or netted together to form a network. By means of a fast exchange of search and track data, a commen air situation is built up and instantaneously shared among all the netted fire units. The evaluation of the common air situation enables an optimised battle management of the available trackers and weapons and provides an overall protection shield. The data transfer is based on near realtime data exchange.

Oerlikon Contraves is in a position to supply from one source a layered low level air defence system which is also inclusive of anti-missile capability. Complete modules for fire control, guns, missile launchers and ammunition are optimally brought together. The technical-tactical integration of a missile launcher results in a striking improvement in the efficiency of inner layer concept of the Skyshield 35 - Ahead systems. The addition of any suitable missile creates a fully capable layered air defence system.

The Skyshield 35 Ahead gun - missile weapon mix air defence systems comply fully with the evolving threat and subsequent customer requirements, as well as new technologies now available led to the development of a comprehensive GBAD Battle Management System (BMC4I). They represent advanced technology, are highly automated, provide great fire power, offer wide versatility in deployment, and are economically a sound and affordable solution, all provided for by Oerlikon Contraves.