BERLIN, Germany – German defense giant Rheinmetall expects to receive a monumental order from the German Army (Bundeswehr) later this year for its Skyranger mobile anti-aircraft gun systems, with an estimated contract value between €6 billion and €8 billion ($7 billion to $9 billion), according to CEO Armin Papperger.
Speaking during a conference call with analysts, Papperger confirmed the massive scale of the upcoming procurement but declined to disclose the specific quantity of systems, citing confidentiality agreements with the German Ministry of Defence.
"We will not talk about the quantity for security reasons," he stated. The delivery schedule for this large-scale order is expected to be completed by 2035 and is structured into two main phases: the first running from now until 2029, and the second from 2029 to 2035. "These are the two tranches the government is planning," Papperger noted.
According to a report by the German defense publication hartpunkt, the Bundeswehr is planning a significant expansion of its ground-based air defense capabilities. Reliable sources indicate that the requirement for the lowest-tier interceptor class alone could amount to between 500 and 600 Skyranger gun systems across all branches of the armed forces. Based on industry price estimates per unit, this quantity would align with the contract value projected by Rheinmetall.
This planned major acquisition follows an initial contract awarded to Rheinmetall in February 2024, valued at €595 million, for the development and delivery of a demonstrator system and 18 production-model Skyranger 30 systems mounted on Boxer wheeled armored vehicles. The prototype was delivered in January 2025, with the series-production vehicles scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028.
Skyranger 30: A Multi-Layered SHORAD Solution
According to Rheinmetall, the Skyranger 30 is designed to close Germany's capability gap in mobile Short-Range and Very Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD/VSHORAD). It is a highly mobile system capable of operating both autonomously and as part of a networked system. Its use of programmable AHEAD airburst ammunition makes it exceptionally well-suited for countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The turret features a hybrid, multi-layered defense architecture combining a main gun, surface-to-air missiles, and an integrated sensor suite.
Primary Cannon Armament:
The core weapon of the Skyranger is the 30x173mm KCE revolver cannon, which has an effective range of up to 3,000 meters. Rheinmetall states it has demonstrated high firepower and precision during tests under adverse weather conditions. Its effectiveness against small aerial threats is enhanced by the 30mm AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction) airburst ammunition. Each round is programmed at the muzzle based on its measured velocity, compensating for minor variations in propellant charge and dramatically improving accuracy.
Missile-Based Defense:
For the Bundeswehr version, Rheinmetall will integrate MBDA's DefendAir missile—formerly known as the Small Anti Drone Missile (SADM)—which is envisioned as a low-cost solution for drone defense. The Skyranger will carry between nine and twelve of these missiles, which have a range of up to 5 kilometers. The development of DefendAir is scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2028, with qualification in 2029 and procurement set to begin in 2030.
Advanced Detection and Tracking:
For detection, the system utilizes the SPEXER 2000M 3D MkIII radar from Hensoldt. Each radar panel covers 120 degrees, allowing for comprehensive 360-degree coverage with three panels. Hensoldt reports the radar can detect and track over 300 targets simultaneously—ranging from micro-drones to fighter jets and missiles—at a range of up to 40 kilometers. Critically, it can also operate while the vehicle is on the move. An advanced electro-optical sensor suite from Chess Dynamics complements the radar for passive target identification and tracking.
With its hybrid cannon-missile architecture, the Skyranger 30 is designed to provide a mobile, robust, and layered defense solution against modern and future aerial threats.
