Mobile air defence: Rheinmetall hands over verification model of Skyranger 30 to the Bundeswehr

At the end of February 2024, the Bundeswehr commissioned Rheinmetall to develop and deliver one verification model and 18 series production vehicles of the Skyranger 30 cannon-based air defence tank on the Boxer vehicle. 

The Skyranger 30 air defence system closes the current critical capability gap in mobile air defence. The system offers an optimal combination of mobility, protection, flexibility and precision to meet the growing requirements of challenging threat scenarios at nearer and very close ranges. As a hybrid solution, its turret combines the powerful 30mmx173 KCE revolver canon, ground-to-air guided missiles and the necessary sensors on a single platform. In Germany, the Skyranger 30 will initially be equipped with the Stinger anti-aircraft weapon; later it ought to be converted to a newly developed special drone defence missile.

The elaborate design of the various weapons, high dynamics and a large elevation range, as well as the latest sensors, enable autonomous as well as networked operations. The AHEAD-ammunition with a programmable airburst position makes the system particularly suitable for encountering drones. The compact turret is integrated on the 8×8 tactical Boxer vehicle.

Skyranger 30 is part of the European Sky Shield initiative. Additional NATO and EU member states want to join the procurement or have already initiated it. In December 2023, Hungary had contracted with Rheinmetall to carry out the conceptual development of the Skyranger 30 turret for the future air defence variant of the Lynx KF41 tracked vehicle. In the meantime, Austria and Denmark have also ordered the Skyranger 30 on different vehicle platforms. 

Other EU and NATO states have likewise expressed interest. End of January 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that the Netherlands will also procure 22 Skyranger 30 systems. The contract is ought to be finalized before the end of 2025.