The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) has awarded another important air defence-related order to Rheinmetall.

According to the company, the German Armed Forces will dispose of 30 Skyranger 30 mobile air defence systems under a contract worth €595 million.

The contract includes delivery of a prototype and another 18 series production vehicles. In addition, there is an option for another 30 systems. The prototype is to be delivered by the end of 2024.

Just last month, the Bundeswehr awarded to Rheinmetall and its partner contractors the development of a system for short- and very short-range air defence (vSHORAD/SHORAD) known as the NNbS, in which the Skyranger 30 will constitute a key component.

An essential part of the NNbS, the Skyranger 30 is embedded in the German government’s European Sky Shield Initiative, in which Germany, acting within a NATO context, has assumed the role of lead nation in ground-based air defence in Europe.

Skyranger’s turret combines the highly effective 30 mm x 173 KCE revolver gun, surface-to-air missiles and the necessary sensor suite, all on a single platform. The Skyranger 30 systems earmarked for Germany will be armed with Stinger missiles, while, depending on customer requirements, the system can be fitted with Mistral missiles or other counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS).

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Skyranger can use Rheinmetall’s programmable airburst ammunition so as to be especially effective against drones. 

The first customer for the Skyranger is Austria, which recently ordered thirty-six Skyranger 30 systems. Other NATO and/or EU member states have also expressed an interest in the system or are already in the process of procuring it. 

In December 2023, Hungary tasked Rheinmetall with developing a concept for a Skyranger 30 turret for the armament of the Lynx KF41 tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicle. Lithuania is also considering the Boxer-mounted Skyranger 30, while Denmark plans to procure the Skyranger 30 solution in combination with another wheeled armoured vehicle.

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