ABU DHABI — HALCON, a regional leader in the production and supply of precision-guided weapons, Tuesday unveiled SkyKnight — the first UAE designed and manufactured counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missile system, at the International Defense and Exhibition Conference (IDEX) 2021.

EDGE, the parent company of HALCON, has been developing a short-range air defense system, as has Germany-based Rheinmetall AG, which was actively seeking a missile system to form part of its Skynex air defense system.

The companies decided to jointly offer a solution, with HALCON providing SkyKnight, the missile system to the highly regarded Oerlikon Skynex Air Defense System, which sets new standards with its unique open architecture.

HALCON’s SkyKnight was purposely designed to counter the full spectrum of modern threats, providing early warning signals and precise surface-to-air intercept capabilities targeting of rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rockets, artillery, mortar, and other fixed-wing aircraft at a range of up to 10Km.

Commenting on this landmark international elevation of a UAE-manufactured missile, Faisal Al Bannai, EDGE Group CEO and managing director said: "SkyKnight is the UAE’s first, but will not be the last air defense missile developed by HALCON.

“We are pleased to team up with Rheinmetall, a leading player in the defense industry, for us to jointly offer the world’s most advanced and comprehensive C-RAM solution leveraging our SkyKnight missile and Rheinmetall’s Skynex solution. This collaboration is a clear message that EDGE is open to teaming up with various players to offer joint advance solutions."

The Oerlikon Skynex air defense system comprises the Oerlikon Skynex control node, multi-sensor units (MSU) featuring active electronically scanned multi-mode radars (AMMR), multiple 35mm revolver guns RG Mk3 and HALCON’s SkyKnight C-RAM missiles and missile launchers, each of which has a capacity of 60 missiles.

HALCON’s C-RAM missile is capable of tracking and neutralizing numerous, multi-directional incoming targets at one time, providing protection for static assets, as well as for mobile and mechanized forces. Transportable and mobile, the system can be deployed fixed on land, sea and moving land platform.

Rheinmetall AG, through its Swiss subsidiary, Rheinmetall Air Defense, has deployed the Skyguard system in numerous countries, which can bring down fast, small targets, and is used as the inner tier of layered air defense of vital points and critical military infrastructure.

Countries that have rolled out Skyguard systems will ultimately upgrade to Skynex, placing HALCON, its SkyKnight C-RAM missile system, and the UAE at the forefront of air defence system innovation.

HALCON is part of the Missiles & Weapons cluster within EDGE, an advanced technology group for defense that ranks among the top 25 military suppliers in the world. — WAM