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Skyranger 30

The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defense 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 defense 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]

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.[3]

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][4] The system is designed to both be operated autonomously and in networked operations.[5][6]

Armaments

Cannon

It is fitted with a modified version of the Oerlikon KCA 30 mm cannon used on the Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet named the KCE. 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 252 ready rounds which are based on the 35 mm AHEAD ammunition.[1][2][4]

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. Several options exist:

Sensors

Radars

Passive sensors

For passive detection, it is installed with Rheinmetall’s FIRST (Fast InfraRed Search and Track), which is optimized 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][16]

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][4]

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][4]

Platforms

For Germany, the Boxer is the platform that would be selected. Hungary is interested in a variant for its KF-41 Lynx, while Denmark is interested in installing it on its Piranha V.[5] Austria chose to have it on its Pandur 6×6.[17] The Pindad Badak was shown with a mockup of the turret during 2022 Indonesian Defence Exposition & Forum.[18]

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.[19][20]

Operators

Future operators

 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 defense system will be delivered from 2026 and the turrets will be equipped with Mistral missiles.[21][22] The order includes also an option for 9 additional systems.[23] 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.[24]
 Denmark (15 planned)
The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization announced, on 16 May 2023, that it had chosen Skyranger 30 to be mounted on Danish Mowag Piranha V, for air defence. The type of the short range missile of the Danish Skyrangers is officially not annanced yet, but according to some sources it will be the Mistral missile.[25][15] 15 air defence vehicles are to be purchased.[26]
 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.[27][28]
The first 19 systems package includes the first prototype and 18 production vehicles.[29]
 Hungary (18 planned)
The government of Hungary signed a MoU in 2021 about developing a Lynx-based air defense vehicle, using the Skyranger 30 turrets with Mistral missiles.[2][30] Rheinmetall receives development order from Hungary for Skyranger 30 turret for the future Lynx KF41. Value of the order 30 million EUR and it covers the integration of the Mistral missiles as well.[26] 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."[31] 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 30 air defense vehicles.[32]

Potential operators

 Lithuania
Under evaluation.[33][27]
 United States
The US Armed Forces are looking for an anti-air canon system, and Rheinmetall offered the Skyranger 30 in August 2024.[34] The offer includes to opportunity to manufacture it locally in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rheinmetall Air Defence unveils its Skyranger 30 (upgraded). European Defence Review. 3 March 2021.
  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. ^ Effective protection against threats from above: Skyranger 30 passes an important milestone. Rheinmetall. 10 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Rheinmetall unveils Skyranger 30 air-defence system". Janes Information Services. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b https://defence-blog.com/rheinmetall-skyranger-30-air-defense-milestone/
  6. ^ https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Air-Defence/B327e0823-Oerlikon-Skyranger.pdf
  7. ^ a b c ES&T Redaktion (2024-09-19). "Das mobile Flugabwehrsystem Skyranger in Action". esut.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  8. ^ https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Weapon-Ammmunition/D127e0823-ABM-KETF-30x173-PMC308-RWMS.pdf
  9. ^ "La tourelle Skyranger 30, porte d'entrée du missile Mistral au Danemark".
  10. ^ "Small Anti Drone Missile Integration in den Skyranger 30 vereinbart" (in German). 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  11. ^ MBDA offers mini missiles for Rheinmetall Skyranger air-defense gun. Defense News. 6 June 2024.
  12. ^ Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30 to Integrate MBDA's Small Anti-Drone Missile at ILA 2024. Army Recognition. 5 June 2024.
  13. ^ "aviacionline.com - Rheinmetall and MBDA team up to combat drones, integrating SADM missiles into Skyranger 30 turrets".
  14. ^ "Hensoldt liefert SPEXER für Skyranger der Heeresflugabwehr" (in German). 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  15. ^ a b "hartpunkt.de - Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer für Dänemark – GDELS zeigt erstmalig Skyranger 30 auf Piranha V".
  16. ^ a b MSU S: increased short range air defence situational awareness from Rheinmetall. European Defence Review. 7 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Rheinmetall: Wie funktioniert der Skyranger-Turm?".
  18. ^ "Indo Defence 2022: Rheinmetall offers local production of Skyranger GBAD system for Indonesia". Janes Information Services. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022.
  19. ^ Skyranger 30 HEL adds laser weapon to mobile air defense arsenal. New Atlas. 7 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Rheinmetall introduces Skyranger 30 with high-energy laser". Janes Information Services. 7 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022.
  21. ^ Market breakthrough in Austria: Rheinmetall supplying Skyranger air defence system on Pandur wheeled armoured vehicle. Rheinmetall. 22 February 2024.
  22. ^ Austrian Pandur vehicles to schlep slimmed Skyranger air defense gun. Defense News. 26 February 2024.
  23. ^ Höller, Linus (2024-02-26). "Austrian Pandur vehicles to schlep slimmed Skyranger air defense gun". Defense News. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  24. ^ "Oliver Dürr: „Wenn wir schießen, dann treffen wir"".
  25. ^ "Forsvaret har valgt maskinkanon til Hærens nye luftværn" [The Defense Forces have chosen a machine gun for the Army's new air defense system]. fmi.dk (in Danish). 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Rheinmetall receives development order from Hungary for Skyranger 30 turret for the future Lynx KF41".
  27. ^ a b "rheinmetall.com - Bundeswehr ordered air defence system Skyranger 30".
  28. ^ Germany buys Rheinmetall’s Skyranger to reinstate mobile air defenses. Defense News. 28 February 2024.
  29. ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas. "Bundeswehr orders Skyranger 30 mounted on Boxer". Janes.
  30. ^ "Kiszivárgott: újfajta légvédelmi rendszerek beszerzését fontolgatja Magyarország".
  31. ^ "Magyar Nemzet - Böröndi Gábor: Tempót váltott a Magyar Honvédség".
  32. ^ "esut.de - Das mobile Flugabwehrsystem Skyranger in Action".
  33. ^ "Germany follows Austria and orders Skyranger air defence systems | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  34. ^ "Rheinmetall bietet Skyranger für die USA an" (in German). 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-16.

External links