The Italian air force has selected the Oerlikon Contraves Skyshield, combined with MBDA Mistral missiles, to meet a requirement for very short-range air defence systems to supplement in-service Alenia Spada surface-to-air missile batteries.
The Skyshield system uses 35mm Oerlikon/Rheinmetall cannons and a combination of radar and electro-optical sensors. Integrating the guns with the Mistral infrared-guided missile will give greater coverage.
Although the gun was not competed, Mistral was evaluated against the Raytheon Stinger, with the MBDA weapon selected because it was considered easier to incorporate in an integrated air-defence system, says a source in Rome.
The Italian government has given the go-ahead for participation in the Joint Strike Fighter systems development and demonstration (SDD) phase. Military sources say Italy will invest around $1 billion as a Level 2 participant. The proposal is now before the parliamentary chamber and senate defence committees.Source: Flight International
