Netherlands orders Skyranger 30 air-defence systems

The Netherlands is procuring Skyranger 30 air-defence systems. (Dutch MoD)

Dutch Defence Minister Gijs Tuinman signed a contract with Rheinmetall Air Defence for Skyranger 30 air-defence systems on 11 December, his ministry announced in a press release later the same day. The contract is for mobile and static Skyranger systems as well as training simulators. The ministry said the procurement would give the Netherlands a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) capability for high-intensity warfare.

Neither the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) nor Rheinmetall would disclose the number of mobile or static Skyranger 30s being procured, but a ministry spokesperson told Janes on 17 December that it would be more than the 22 Tuinman announced were being procured on 29 January.

The Dutch MoD noted that the Skyranger 30 medium- and short-range air-defence system is designed to counter unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) weighing up to 600 kg. Its secondary targets are low-flying helicopters at a range of up to 5 km, according to the Defensie Projectoverzicht (Defence Project Overview: DPO) 2025 published in May. In addition to providing mobile protection of combat units on the move, the systems will defend critical military infrastructure such as airbases and ports against UAS swarms, small UASs, and loitering munitions. DPO 2025 estimates the Dutch combat C-UAS project budget at EUR1–2.5 billion (USD1.2–2.9 billion) for 2025–30.

Rheinmetall Air Defence will build the first three Skyranger 30 prototypes, after which Rheinmetall Defence Nederland in Ede will assemble the remaining systems, with the last to be delivered to the Royal Netherlands Army no later than 2029.