Key Points
- Rheinmetall demonstrated counter-drone methods, together with its Skyspotter platform, throughout Finnish Armed Forces Ground-based Air Defence Demo Days in Lohtaja.
- The demonstration centered on detecting, classifying, and monitoring a variety of small unmanned aerial threats beneath area situations.
Rheinmetall has demonstrated its countermeasures in opposition to small unmanned aerial methods through the Ground-based Air Defence (GBAD) Demo Days on the Lohtaja firing vary in Finland.
According to a press launch from Rheinmetall, representatives of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG have been invited to participate within the occasion by the Inspector of Air Defence of the Finnish Armed Forces. The demonstration befell in a distant forest space beneath difficult weather conditions and was organized in cooperation with XD Solution and the Finnish Armed Forces.
Company says the trials have been designed to copy real looking operational situations, with threats starting from jet-powered drones to small quadcopters. Rheinmetall mentioned the occasion centered on the detection, classification, and monitoring of all kinds of unmanned aerial methods working at completely different speeds and in numerous airspaces.
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At the middle of the presentation was Skyspotter, Rheinmetall’s multi-sensory early warning and reconnaissance system. As famous by the corporate, Skyspotter is designed to detect, classify, and observe airborne threats and is meant to guard essential infrastructure and safe giant areas in opposition to drone assaults.
Rheinmetall mentioned Skyspotter is constructed on an open structure that permits the mixing of various sensors and effectors relying on the risk stage. This design is meant to offer operators flexibility as drone applied sciences and ways proceed to evolve.
In cooperation with Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH, the corporate introduced a quickly deployable model of the Skyspotter system mounted on a Rheinmetall HX truck. According to the corporate, this configuration demonstrates the system’s mobility and its means to be deployed shortly to guard ahead positions or delicate websites.
During the GBAD Demo Days, Rheinmetall additionally introduced an built-in system setup combining Skyspotter with a number of dislocated Passive Emitter Locator sensors and a quickly deployable, specialised command-and-control shelter. The firm mentioned this association permits efficient command and management from a protected distance from energetic parts whereas bettering the safety of working personnel.
The demonstration highlighted how the completely different parts are meant to work collectively as a single system, permitting operators to take care of situational consciousness whereas coordinating responses to a number of aerial threats. Rheinmetall says this built-in method is central to fashionable ground-based air protection ideas, the place velocity of detection and response is essential.
Skyspotter might be paired with a variety of countermeasures, in line with Rheinmetall. These embrace directional jammers, interceptor drones, and the Revolver Gun 30mm system, which is presently within the conceptual section. The Revolver Gun is designed to make use of individually programmable KETF ammunition, which depends on kinetic power influence somewhat than explosive results.
The firm mentioned this layered method permits forces to pick acceptable responses primarily based on the kind of drone, its habits, and the encircling setting, decreasing the danger of collateral harm whereas sustaining efficient protection.
In an announcement, Oliver Dürr, Head of Rheinmetall’s Electronic Solutions Division, emphasised the cooperative facet of the demonstration. “The GBAD Demo Days 2025 have impressively highlighted the significance of partnership-based cooperation within the additional improvement of contemporary air defence capabilities. We wish to thank the Finnish Armed Forces for the invitation and the wonderful cooperation, in addition to our business companions and our Finnish accomplice Oy Telva. Their dedication and experience have contributed considerably to efficiently demonstrating the efficiency of our methods beneath real looking situations,” Dürr mentioned.
