The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defence turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly Oerlikon) and first revealed in March 2021. Its role is to provide ground units with a mobile system capable of engaging fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, Group I and II unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions and cruise missiles.[1][2]

Development

Following the end of the Cold War, most Western land forces divested their mobile air defence assets. This caused a gap to appear which would leave them vulnerable as air threats returned in the early 21st century, as demonstrated during conflicts such as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. To address this, Rheinmetall Air Defence developed the Skyranger 30 concept demonstrator and publicly displayed it in March 2021.[1]

Starting in 2018, Rheinmetall Air Defence's product management department, under the leadership of Michael Gerber and Moritz Vischer, conceptually designed the Skyranger 30. An in-depth analysis by Moritz Vischer of ammunition effect, effective range, turret dimensions and cost was conducted and led to the finalization of the concept[3]. By opting to use the 30mmx173 KCE[4] revolver cannon, a lighter turret design compared to the Skyranger 35 (35mmx228) turret was achievable. This allows for the integration of other air defence effectors such as SHORAD anti-aircraft missles, high energy lasers or short rage drone interceptors, thus creating a highly mobile hybrid air defence system. By including an AESA search radar into the turret structure and using a high-performance optical tracker all relevant air defence functions (search, track engage) are combined in one unmanned turret.

The product management department spearheaded a small dedicated development team to produce a concept demonstrator. This Skyranger 30 A0 turret concept demonstrator was used from 2020 onward for development risk reduction and marketing activities. Michael Gerber's experience in the development of the Skyranger 35, the KDG revolver gun and the Millennium naval gun flowed into the general design of the Skyranger 30. Besides being a concept demonstrator, the Skyranger 30 A0 turret was also successfully used as a platform to combine and showcase Rheinmetall's full range of capabilities and products (e.g. Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY), Fast Infrared Search and Track Sensor (FIRST)).

Due to the Corona lockdown, a live feed internet unboxing event was conducted on December 16 2020 to unveil the concept and turret. This was the first time such an unboxing event was used to unveil a major weapon system. At ILA 2022 Air Show in Berlin the Skyranger 30 A0 Turret was presented on a GTK Boxer.

In December 2023, the Skyranger 30A1 development testbed was tested in live-fire exercises at the Ochsenboden proving ground in stationary and mobile modes. Total system qualification of the Skyranger 30A3 version is expected in mid-2024.[5]

Design

A cutaway photo of a 30 mm ABM round, showing the tungsten cylinders inside

The Skyranger 30 follows the same general configuration as the Skyranger 35, a remote turret with a 1.414 m-diameter turret ring, but with less weight of 2-2.5 tonnes enabling it to be installed on lighter 6×6 wheeled vehicles.[1][2][6] The system is designed to both be operated autonomously and in networked operations.[7][8]

Armaments

Cannon

It is fitted with the Oerlikon KCE cannon, a modified version of the Oerlikon KCA 30 mm cannon used on the Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet. While it has a shorter effective range than the Skyranger 35 at 3 km, it has a higher rate of fire of 1,250 rounds per minute. It maintains the ability to elevate 85° to combat terminal diving targets.

Ammunition

The ammunition fired by the KCE cannon have a 30×173 mm calibre, and are of the airburst type with a time fuze.The turret carries 300 ready rounds[9] which are based on the 35 mm AHEAD ammunition.[1][2][6]

  • PMC308: This ammunition has 162 tungsten cylinders subprojectiles, they are the ones used on the Puma IFV. The ammunition carries a total of 201 grams of tungsten projectiles.[10][11]
  • PMC455: A new ammunition with around 500 tungsten cylinders for the same total weight that is being developed.[10][9]
The latest version of the Skyranger 30 turret with SADM missiles. It has only three AESA radar panels for 360° coverage.

Missiles

Due to the system's reduced weight, the Skyranger 30 turret is able to integrate very short range missiles. The types of missiles are V/SHORAD, and have an infrared homing system or a laser beam riding system. From the variants unveiled, they can carry from 2 to 9 missiles.

Several options exist:

  • FIM-92 Stinger: The turret is equipped with a quad-launcher.[12][13] It was selected by the German Army and the Dutch Army. For the German Army, the missiles are expected to be replaced by dedicated anti-drone missiles (smaller size, more volume, lower cost).
  • Mistral-3: Renderings of this variant have shown both a dual and quad launchers..[14][15] It was selected by Austrian Army, as it already operated this missile as a MANPAD.[16] This missile is expected to be also chosen by the Danish Army.[17]
  • SkyKnight: Among the variants presented by Rheinmetall Air Defence, one offers the missile of Halcon as an option. This missile is designed to engage large artillery shells and other form of guided munitions.[18][1][2][6] As of early 2025, no client selected this missile.
  • SADM: The SADM (Small Anti Drone Missiles) is based on the MBDA Enforcer. The SADM missile's range is about 5–6 km.[19] This variant of the Skyranger 30 turret was presented at ILA Berlin Air Show 2024 by Rheinmetall Air Defence and MBDA Deutschland, with a launcher carrying 9 SADM.[20][21][22]

Sensors

Radars

  • Rheinmetall Italia AMMR: It is an S-band AESA multi-mission radar. has a detection range of over 20 km for a 1 m2 RCS aircraft, 12 km against hovering helicopters, 10 km against missiles, and 5 km against RAM targets and micro-UAS. The first shown prototype turret hade five flat antennas integrated around the turret provide full 360° coverage, although four would be enough as they each have 90° field of view. The AMMR .[23][1][24] As of early 2025, this radar has not yet been selected to be used on the Skyranger 30.
  • Hensoldt Spexer 2000M 3D MkIII: It is an X-band AESA radar. The turret is equipped with three flat antennas that cover 360°. There is a smaller flat antenna on the front of the turret, presumably for target tracking. The SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII radar's detection ranges: Light aircraft (3.0 m2 RCS): 27 km; Low-level helicopter (5.0 m2 RCS): 36 km; UAV (0.2 m2 RCS): 9 km,[25] Micro-UAV: 6 km.[26] As of early 2025, this radar was selected to be used with the German, the Austrian, the Hungarian and the Danish variants.[27][28][29]

Passive sensors

For passive detection, it is installed with Rheinmetall's FIRST (Fast InfraRed Search and Track), which is optimised to detect pop-up targets such as helicopters. Identification and tracking is handled by a compact target tracker that includes one HD cooled MWIR thermal camera, one full-HD TV camera, and two laser rangefinders, one devoted to air targets and the other for land targets.[1][24]

Protection

The turret features a central armored structure with basic Level 2 protection, which can be fitted with add-on armor to increase to Level 4.[1][2][6]

Additional features include two ROSY (Rapid Obscuring System) launchers each with nine multi-spectral smoke grenades, a hatch in the hull ceiling for the vehicle commander to view the battlefield from outside, and a coaxial machine gun fitted on the left of the main gun for use as a self-defence weapon.[1][2][6] According to the released photos, both the hatch and the coaxial machine gun was omitted from the final production version of the turret.[10]

Platforms

Future variants

  • Boxer: The German Army ordered 19 systems based on the Boxer.[12]
  • KF-41 Lynx: Hungary signed a contract with Rheinmetall in December 2023 to develop the Skyranger 30 based on the tracked platform.[30] The Italian Army is also expected to order some Lynx equipped with the Skyranger 30 turret with the "Air Defence" variant.[31]
  • Pandur 6×6: The Austrian Amy ordered 36 Skyranger 30 in February 2024 with an option for 9 additional systems.[32]
  • Piranha V: The Danish Army selected the Skyranger 30 system, and will equip it on their 8×8. During trials in Switzerland, Rheinmetall presented the variant on the Piranha V.[33]
  • ACSV: The Dutch Army selected the Skyranger 30 to be mounted on the ACSV.[34][35]

Potential variants

Future features

Electronic warfare

Additional add-ons are under consideration, including electronic warfare systems in the form of passive emitter locators to pick up UAV data link signals, as well as RF-jammers to jam such links to neutralize UAVs without using kinetic effectors.[1]

High-energy laser

In late 2021, Rheinmetall unveiled the Skyranger 30 high-energy laser (HEL), intended to increase the system's ability to neutralize small targets at greater range and lower cost. The initial power level is 20 kW, with an immediate goal to increase it to 50 kW and an ideal goal of 100 kW.[38][39]

Operators

Current operators

 Germany (1 prototype + 18 systems ordered)
The German Army ordered 19 systems on GTK Boxer vehicles for €595 million in February 2024 and 30 more are planned. They will be armed with Stinger missiles.[40][41] The first 19 systems package includes a test vehicle, followed by 18 production vehicles.[42]
The test vehicle was delivered to the German Army in February 2025.[13]

Future operators

Pandur EVO Skyranger 30 prototype of the Austrian Armed Forces
 Austria (36 ordered + 9 in option)
The Austrian Armed Forces signed a contract in February 2024 for 36 systems mounted on Pandur EVO vehicles. The short-range air defence system will be delivered from 2026 and the turrets will be equipped with Mistral missiles.[43][44] The order includes also an option for 9 additional systems.[45] The turret of the Austrian version is one ton lighter than the standard turret and carries only two missiles due to the lower load capacity 6x6 chassis.[46]
 Denmark (4 prototypes + 12 systems ordered)
The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation announced, on 16 May 2023, that it had chosen Skyranger 30 to be mounted on Danish Mowag Piranha V, for air defence.[47][29]
In September 2024, the Danish authorities commissioned Rheinmetall Air Defence for 16 turrets:[48]
  • 4 prototypes and pre-production turrets to be delivered by the end of 2026
  • 12 to be delivered in 2027 and 2028
Netherlands' Skyranger 30 on ACSV G5 chassis
 Netherlands (22 systems ordered)
The Netherlands Army has ordered 22 systems, which will be built on the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) tracked platform. The contract will be signed in 2025, and the delivery of the first systems is planned for 2028.[34][35]

Potential operators

 Hungary (18 planned)
The government of Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding in 2021 about developing a Lynx-based air defence vehicle, using the Skyranger 30 turrets with Mistral missiles.[2][49] Rheinmetall receives development order from Hungary for Skyranger 30 turret for the future Lynx KF41. The value of the order is €30 million and covers the integration of the Mistral missiles as well.[50] Colonel-General Gábor Böröndi, Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces, said in a late 2023 interview: "We are also planning to purchase the SkyRanger system, which is suitable for destroying aerial targets and drones. We are developing it together with the Germans and the Danes, it will be ready and adopted within a year or two."[51] This means that the Hungarian Armed Forces should receive their first Skyrangers in 2025 or 2026.
According to unconfirmed press reports, Hungary plans to purchase 18 Skyranger air defence vehicles.[52]
 Italy
As part of the programme planning to purchase 1,050 KF-41 Lynx, the Italian Army is planning to purchase a variant for air-defence, equipped with a canon.[31]
 Lithuania
Under evaluation.[53][40]
 United States
The US Armed Forces are looking for an anti-air cannon system, and Rheinmetall offered the Skyranger 30 in August 2024.[54] The offer includes the opportunity to manufacture it locally in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e f g Countering RAM, drones and other flying objects with highly mobile assets, Rheinmetall’s solutions. European Defence Review. 1 July 2022.
  3. ^ https://www.asmz.ch/fileadmin/asmz/Dokumente/M%C3%A4rz%202023/Der_Gepard-Flugabwehrpanzer_hat_50_Jahre_nach_seiner_Entwicklung_den_ersten_Kriegseinsatz.pdf
  4. ^ https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Weapon-Ammmunition/B226e0620-Rheinmetall-Leadership-in-cannon-design-medium-calibre-portfolio.pdf
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  46. ^ "Oliver Dürr: "Wenn wir schießen, dann treffen wir"".
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Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyranger_30
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