According to the Emirati news agency “WAM”, the “Sky Knight” system was announced during the International Defense Exhibition “IDEX” 2021, which will be held in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
Edge Group, the parent company of Halkin, developed a short-range air defense system, as did the German company Rheinmetall AG, which was seeking to acquire a missile system to form part of its Skynex air defense system.
The two companies decided to present a joint solution, whereby “Halken” would provide the “SkyNight” missile system for the distinguished “Oerlikon Skynex” air defense system that sets new standards.
“SkyNight” in “Halkin” was designed to deal with all modern hazards, providing early warning signals and precise surface-to-air interception capabilities.
The system targets rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle missiles, artillery shells, mortars and other fixed-wing aircraft within a range of up to 10 km.
Not the last
Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director of Edge Group, said that “SkyNight” is the first Emirati air defense missile made by “Halkin”, but it will not be the last.
He added that “Sky Knight” is one of the many great achievements announced, as part of the country’s endeavor to establish sovereign defense capabilities in order to address the growing risks that are not covered by many entities in the market adequately.
The “Oerlikon Skynex” air defense system consists of the “Oerlikon Skynex” control point, multi-sensing units, an electronic active scan array, multi-mode radar devices, and 35 mm multi-caliber pistols “RG Mk3”, in addition to “SkyNight” missiles and launchers from “Halken” with the ability Capacity of up to 60 missiles each.
The “Halkin” anti-missile, artillery and mortar missile can track and deflect multiple incoming multi-directional targets simultaneously, providing protection for fixed assets, as well as dynamic and mechanical forces.
The system, which is movable and portable, can be used stably on land, at sea and on a moving platform.
Armin Baberger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, said that Rheinmetall’s air defense technologies are able to fill the newly emerging gaps in ground-based air defense to counter very complex new risks.
The company “Rheinmetall AG”, through its Swiss subsidiary “Rheinmetall Air Defense”, deployed the “Skyguard” system in many countries, which can shoot down small and fast targets, and are used as an inner layer in a multi-layered air defense consisting of important military infrastructure and vital points .
The countries that have used the “Skyguard” will eventually upgrade their system to “Skynex”, which puts “Halken” and its “SkyNight” anti-missile system, artillery and mortar shells, and the UAE at the forefront of innovations related to the air defense system.
Halkin is part of the missile and weapons sector at EDGE, the defense sector’s advanced technology group that ranks among the top 25 military suppliers in the world.
.
