Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30 A1 Completes Live-Fire Tests, Advances Towards Series Production

Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30 A1, a mobile air defense system, has achieved a milestone with successful testing and live-fire trials at the company's Ochsenboden proving ground in Switzerland in December 2023.

The assessments encompassed the system's functionality in both stationary and mobile modes.

The Skyranger 30 A1 functions as a development testbed, aiming to facilitate the total system qualification of the Skyranger 30 A3 by mid-2024. The adaptable design of the A1 allows for efficient testing and optimization of various customer variants, accommodating different radars and effectors. This adaptability is crucial as the Skyranger 30 is poised for adoption by multiple European nations.

In December 2023, Hungary, a NATO and EU member state, entered into a contract with Rheinmetall for the development of a Skyranger 30 turret for the Lynx KF41 tracked armored vehicle, earmarked for the future air defense variant. Additionally, Denmark and Germany are planning to procure the Skyranger 30, with each nation intending to mount the system on different wheeled armored vehicles.

The core element of the Skyranger 30 is the 30mmx173 KCE revolver cannon, showcasing its firepower and precision even in adverse weather conditions. This positions the Skyranger 30 as a tool to counter a range of aerial threats, including drones, freeing ground troops to focus on their primary mission.

The Skyranger 30 A3 is designed to provide a response to various aerial threats. Its ordnance array, coupled with high mobility and sensors, enables both autonomous and networked operation. The compact turret design further allows integration into a variety of manned and unmanned platforms, including Rheinmetall's 8x8 Boxer wheeled armored vehicle.