Skyranger 30 air-defence system demonstration at the Ochsenboden range in Switzerland in September 2024. (Rheinmetall)
The Bundeswehr received the prototype of its Skyranger 30 air-defence system at the end of January, Rheinmetall announced in a press release on 5 February. Referred to as the verification model, the system will be used to obtain the necessary Bundeswehr approval.
Acceptance testing will begin during the second quarter of 2025 after the Bundeswehr is instructed on how to operate the vehicle. Serial deliveries are planned mainly for 2027 and the beginning of 2028.
In February 2024 the Bundeswehr ordered 18 Skyranger 30 systems mounted on Boxer armoured vehicles worth EUR595 million (USD617.8 million), with an option for 30 more. The Skyranger 30 will fill the gap in German capabilities created by the phasing out of the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun in 2010.
According to Rheinmetall, the Skyranger 30 will be a key component of the Bundeswehr's Nah- und Nächstbereichsschutz (short- and very-short-range air defence: NNbS), for which a Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defence, and Hensoldt Sensors Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) working group was awarded a contract in January 2024. Rheinmetall said that the system will close a critical capability gap in mobile air defence.
The Skyranger 30 turret is equipped with a 30×173 mm KCE revolver gun firing advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) programmable airburst munition, two surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and a sensor suite. Rheinmetall said the SAMs would initially be Stingers and later a newly developed special anti-unmanned aerial vehicle missile. The sensor suite comprises a Hensoldt Spexer X-band radar, optical sensors for target tracking, a thermal camera, a day camera, and a laser rangefinder. The German vehicle is also equipped with Rheinmetall Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) smoke grenade launchers.
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