Skyranger 30

Skyranger 30
The latest version of Skyranger 30 turret
TypeVery short-range air defence SPAAG
Place of originSwitzerland
Production history
ManufacturerRheinmetall Air Defence AG
ProducedFrom 2024
No. built71 firm orders
Specifications
Mass2.5 to 3.4 t (5,500 to 7,500 lb) (turret)
Length5.175 m (16.98 ft) (turret)
Width2.568 m (8.43 ft) (turret)
Height1.444 m (4.74 ft) (turret)
Crew3
CartridgeAirburst round
Caliber30×173 mm
Rate of fire1,200 rds/min (nominal rate)
200 rds/min (single shots)
Muzzle velocity1,050 m/s (3,400 ft/s)
Maximum firing range
  • Canon: 3.0 km (1.9 mi) (effective range)
  • Missile: 5.0 to 8.0 km (3.1 to 5.0 mi)
ArmorSTANAG 4569 Level 2, upgradable to Level 4
Main
armament
Oelikon KCE

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

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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

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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

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Cannon

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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

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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 300 ready rounds[7] which are based on the 35 mm AHEAD ammunition.[1][2][4]

  • PMC308: this ammunition has 162 tungsten cylinders subprojectiles, they are the ones used on the Puma IFV. The ammunition carries a total of 201 grams of tungsten projectiles.[8][9]
  • A new ammunition with around 500 tungsten cylinders for the same total weight is being developed under the name PMC455.[8][7]
The latest version of the Skyranger 30 turret with SADM missiles. It has only three AESA radar panels for 360° coverage.

Missiles

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Due to the system's reduced weight, the Skyranger 30 turret is able to integrate very short range missiles. Several options exist:

Sensors

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Radars

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  • Hensoldt offers the SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII X-band radar for the Skyranger 30 turret. It was selected for the Austrian and the German ones,[15] as well as for the Hungarian and Danish Skyrangers.[16] The latest version of the turret shown at the ILA 2024 Exhibition has only three flat antennas for 360° coverage. This suggest that it is already equipped with tha SPEXER radar, of which each antenna has 120° coverage, unlike the Rheinmetall's own AMMR radar of which each antenna has 90° coverage only. There is a smaller flat antenna on the front of the turret, presumably for target tracking. The SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII radar's detection ranges: Light aircraft (3.0 m2 RCS): 27 km; Low-level helicopter (5.0 m2 RCS): 36 km; UAV (0.2 m2 RCS): 9 km,[17] Micro-UAV: 6 km.[18]
  • One of the option of the Skyranger 30 uses the S-band AESA Multi-Mission Radar (AMMR) developed by Rheinmetall Italia. The first shown prototype turret hade five flat antennas integrated around the turret provide full 360° coverage, although four would be enough as they each have 90° field of view. The AMMR has a detection range of over 20 km for a 1 m2 RCS aircraft, 12 km against hovering helicopters, 10 km against missiles, and 5 km against RAM targets and micro-UAS.[1][19]

Passive sensors

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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][19]

Protection

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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] According to the released photos, both the hatch and the coaxial machine gun was omitted from the final production version of the turret.[8]

Platforms

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Future variants

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  • Boxer: The German Army ordered 19 systems based on the Boxer.
  • KF-41 Lynx: Hungary signed a contract with Rheinmetall in December 2023 to develop the Skyranger 30 based on the tracked platform.[20]
  • Pandur 6×6: The Austrian Amy ordered 36 Skyranger 30 in February 2024 with an option for 9 additional systems.[21]
  • Piranha V: The Danish Army selected the Skyranger 30 system, and will equip it on their 8×8. During trials in Switzerland, Rheinmetall presented the variant on the Piranha V.[22]

Potential variants

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Future features

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Electronic warfare

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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

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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.[25][26]

Operators

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Future operators

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Pandur EVO Skyranger 30 prototype of the Austrian Armed Forces
 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.[27][28] The order includes also an option for 9 additional systems.[29] 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.[30]
 Denmark (4 prototypes + 12 systems ordered)
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.[31][16]
In September 2024, the Danish authorities commissioned Rheinmetall Air Defence for 16 turrets:[32]
  • 4 prototypes and pre-production turrets to be delivered by the end of 2026
  • 12 to be delivered in 2027 and 2028
 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.[33][34]
The first 19 systems package includes the first prototype and 18 production vehicles.[35]

Potential operators

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 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][36] 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.[37] 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."[38] 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.[39]
 Lithuania
Under evaluation.[40][33]
 United States
The US Armed Forces are looking for an anti-air cannon system, and Rheinmetall offered the Skyranger 30 in August 2024.[41] The offer includes the opportunity to manufacture it locally in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.

See also

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References

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  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. ^ 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 "EDR Online - Rheinmetall Skyranger family: defending mobile formations against drones and not only".
  8. ^ a b c ES&T Redaktion (2024-09-19). "Das mobile Flugabwehrsystem Skyranger in Action". esut.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  9. ^ https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Weapon-Ammmunition/D127e0823-ABM-KETF-30x173-PMC308-RWMS.pdf
  10. ^ "La tourelle Skyranger 30, porte d'entrée du missile Mistral au Danemark".
  11. ^ "Small Anti Drone Missile Integration in den Skyranger 30 vereinbart" (in German). 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  12. ^ MBDA offers mini missiles for Rheinmetall Skyranger air-defense gun. Defense News. 6 June 2024.
  13. ^ Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30 to Integrate MBDA's Small Anti-Drone Missile at ILA 2024. Army Recognition. 5 June 2024.
  14. ^ "aviacionline.com - Rheinmetall and MBDA team up to combat drones, integrating SADM missiles into Skyranger 30 turrets".
  15. ^ "Hensoldt liefert SPEXER für Skyranger der Heeresflugabwehr" (in German). 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  16. ^ a b "hartpunkt.de - Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer für Dänemark – GDELS zeigt erstmalig Skyranger 30 auf Piranha V".
  17. ^ "hensoldt.net - SPEXER® 2000" (PDF).
  18. ^ "hensoldt.net - Spexer-2000-Datasheet-English.pdf" (PDF).
  19. ^ a b MSU S: increased short range air defence situational awareness from Rheinmetall. European Defence Review. 7 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Rheinmetall". Rheinmetall. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  21. ^ "Rheinmetall". Rheinmetall. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  22. ^ "Rheinmetall presents Skyranger 30 on Piranha V". Default. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  23. ^ "AUSA – Rheinmetall will Flugabwehrvariante des M5 Ripsaw UGV mit 30-mm-Skyranger-Turm zeigen". soldat-und-technik.de (in German). 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ Skyranger 30 HEL adds laser weapon to mobile air defense arsenal. New Atlas. 7 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Rheinmetall introduces Skyranger 30 with high-energy laser". Janes Information Services. 7 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022.
  27. ^ Market breakthrough in Austria: Rheinmetall supplying Skyranger air defence system on Pandur wheeled armoured vehicle. Rheinmetall. 22 February 2024.
  28. ^ Austrian Pandur vehicles to schlep slimmed Skyranger air defense gun. Defense News. 26 February 2024.
  29. ^ Höller, Linus (2024-02-26). "Austrian Pandur vehicles to schlep slimmed Skyranger air defense gun". Defense News. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  30. ^ "Oliver Dürr: "Wenn wir schießen, dann treffen wir"".
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ "Forsvaret underskriver kontrakt på maskinkanon til Hærens nye luftværn". 27 September 2024.
  33. ^ a b "rheinmetall.com - Bundeswehr ordered air defence system Skyranger 30".
  34. ^ Germany buys Rheinmetall’s Skyranger to reinstate mobile air defenses. Defense News. 28 February 2024.
  35. ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas. "Bundeswehr orders Skyranger 30 mounted on Boxer". Janes.
  36. ^ "Kiszivárgott: újfajta légvédelmi rendszerek beszerzését fontolgatja Magyarország".
  37. ^ "Rheinmetall receives development order from Hungary for Skyranger 30 turret for the future Lynx KF41".
  38. ^ "Magyar Nemzet - Böröndi Gábor: Tempót váltott a Magyar Honvédség".
  39. ^ "esut.de - Das mobile Flugabwehrsystem Skyranger in Action".
  40. ^ "Germany follows Austria and orders Skyranger air defence systems | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  41. ^ "Rheinmetall bietet Skyranger für die USA an" (in German). 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
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