The Netherlands January 29, 2025, announcement of its decision to acquire the Rheinmetall Air Defence Skyranger 30 to address its counter unmanned aerial systems (CUAS) requirements further reinforces its position as being viewed as an effective and available solution to defending against these latest aerial threats.
In fact, the Dutch Ministry of Defence selection for which a contact is expected shortly joins that of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Denmark, and expectedly Lithuania which are fielding the system. Remarkably Skyranger’s development, launched as a company initiative by then Oerlikon, resulted in a 30mm concept demonstrator by 2020 and a successful live-firing public presentation just less than two years ago in 2023.
Drawing on the Skyranger 35, the Skyranger 39 being acquired is lighter allowing the 4-4,5 tonne unmanned turret to be integrated to a wide range of wheeled and tracked mobile platforms. Currently these include the Boxer (Germany), Pandur EVO 6X6 (Austria), Lynx (Hungary), Piranha 8X8 (Denmark), and ACSV Gen 5 (Netherlands). In addition, it has been demonstrated on tactical trucks, as well as Leopard 1 (being provided to Ukraine) and Leopard 2 main battle tank chassis. This platform adaptability significantly enhances its attraction allowing compatibility with an army’s existing vehicle fleets.
The core of the Skyranger is the revolver automatic cannon which is the 30X173mm KCE-ABM with 3 km range or 35X228mm KDG with 4 km range. Both employ AHEAD ammunition; an advanced proximity fuses programable projectile packed with tungsten pellets released in a dense cloud in the path of the target assuring its destruction. The characteristics of AHEAD including lethality, the weapon’s accuracy and the up to 1000 round/minute rate of fire make Skyranger effective against Group 1 and 2 drones, cruise missiles, aircraft, ground targets and even in the C-RAM (counter-rocket/indirect delivered munitions) roles. The reliable destruction of multiple swarm drone attack has also been demonstrated.
The Skyranger employs radar for detection, target acquisition and tracking. In the Skyranger 30 this includes Hensoldt’s SR30 Spexer 2000 X band AESA complemented by an independent electro-optic suite with high resolution day and thermal cameras and laser rangefinder. Further, the Skyranger can mount a dual launcher for very short-range air defence missiles including the Stinger, Mistral 3, and Chiron extending its effective reach to up to 6 to 9 km. The system has also been fir with Rheinmetall’s FIRST a panoramic thermal target detection system which is fully passive and immune to electronic jamming or signal riding homing missiles.
Currently, the company has hard orders for around ninety-nine systems with options for an additional fifty-one of the Skyranger 30 on various platforms. Skyranger 30 can accurately engage multiple targets in rapid succession either while moving or stationary. In addition, the Skyshield/Skynet, a ground mounted system using the 35mm KDG turret intended for fixed site defence, has been fielded by Italy, Qatar, Indonesia, South Africa and, in 2024, Ukraine. The last have proven their effectiveness in downing even mass drone attacks in combat conditions. Considering the seriousness and immediacy of the threat presented by unmanned aerial systems in particular to manoeuvre forces having a demonstrably effective solution like Skyranger that can be fielded in the near-term will undoubtably garner additional interest.
by Stephen W. Miller
