Rheinmetall Delivers Skyranger 30 Air Defence to German Military: UNTERLÜSS, Germany – Rheinmetall has reached a key milestone in the development of the Bundeswehr’s next-generation mobile air defense system, delivering the first Boxer Skyranger 30 cannon-based air defense vehicle at the end of January 2025. This delivery marks the scheduled handover of the verification model, which will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation by the Bundeswehr to secure the necessary approvals for serial production.
Following operator training on the vehicle’s systems, the official admission trial is set to begin in spring 2025. Pending successful completion of the trials, serial deliveries of the Skyranger 30 are expected to take place primarily in 2027 and early 2028.
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The Bundeswehr initially commissioned Rheinmetall in February 2024 to develop and deliver one verification model and 18 series production vehicles of the Skyranger 30, integrated onto the 8×8 Boxer wheeled vehicle platform. This acquisition addresses a critical capability gap in the Bundeswehr’s mobile air defense capabilities.
The Skyranger 30 system is designed to provide an optimal blend of mobility, protection, flexibility, and precision, enabling it to effectively counter evolving threats at close and very close ranges. Its hybrid turret design consolidates a powerful 30mmx173 KCE revolver cannon, surface-to-air guided missiles, and advanced sensor suites onto a single platform. The system is initially slated to be equipped with the Stinger anti-aircraft missile in German service, with plans for future integration of a newly developed specialized drone defense missile.
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Rheinmetall Skyranger Air-Defence System.
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The Skyranger 30’s sophisticated design, encompassing its diverse weaponry, high operational dynamics, extensive elevation range, and state-of-the-art sensors, facilitates both autonomous and networked operations. The system’s ability to utilize programmable airburst ammunition, known as AHEAD, makes it particularly effective against unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. The compact turret is seamlessly integrated onto the highly mobile 8×8 Boxer tactical vehicle.
The Skyranger 30 program is a key component of the broader European Sky Shield initiative, attracting significant interest from other NATO and EU member states. Several nations are either in the process of joining the joint procurement effort or have already initiated their own acquisitions. Hungary contracted with Rheinmetall in December 2023 to develop the conceptual design for the Skyranger 30 turret for the future air defense variant of the Lynx KF41 tracked vehicle. Austria and Denmark have also placed orders for the Skyranger 30, integrating the system onto different vehicle platforms.
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Rheinmetall’s Lynx XM30 CV.
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The growing international interest in the Skyranger 30 underscores its perceived value in modern air defense scenarios. In late January 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced its intention to procure 22 Skyranger 30 systems, with a contract expected to be finalized before the end of 2025. These developments highlight the Skyranger 30’s potential to become a standard in European mobile air defense.
