German Skynex Failed Against Russian Geran Drones
Stern cites an AFU report claiming German Skynex systems failed to repel Russian Geran drone strike on a Ukrainian industrial facility.
The German Skynex anti-aircraft artillery system, previously presented as one of the most effective tools against drones, has come under criticism from Ukrainian military personnel. The reason was a strike by Russian Geran-type kamikaze drones on one of Ukraine’s industrial facilities in early April. Stern magazine reported this, citing an internal AFU report.
According to the published data, the facility was protected by two Skynex batteries. The defensive perimeter included eight anti-aircraft guns with 35 mm automatic cannons, two radar stations and two command posts. Despite this configuration, the system failed to repel the Russian drone attack.
The problems began within the first minutes of the strike. Three of the eight anti-aircraft guns went out of service almost immediately. The AFU report listed a hydraulic system defect, a tracking radar failure and a jammed loading mechanism among the causes.
The remaining guns also failed to neutralize the threat. As a result, the Ukrainian side concluded that Skynex’s actual performance did not match the declared specifications, and that the system proved extremely unreliable under real combat conditions.
Germany rejected these accusations. The German side insists that the Skynex systems are effective and reliable, linking the problems not to the equipment itself, but to the actions of Ukrainian crews.