MBDA and Rheinmetall sign agreement to integrate anti-drone missile on Skyranger 30

6th June 2024 - 13:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team in London

RSS

Skyranger 30 can integrate a number of different weapons. (Photo: Rheinmetall)

The Rheinmetall Air Defence Skyranger is a mobile ground-based air defence system which can be deployed against air targets at short and very short range as well as ground targets. The Skyranger's search and tracking sensors provide 360° surveillance and fire control data.

Rheinmetall Electronics and MBDA Deutschland have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to integrate MBDA's Small Anti Drone Missile (SADM) into the Skyranger 30 and other Rheinmetall air defence vehicles.

Integrating SADM will provide defensive capability against small and medium-sized UAS at longer stand-off distances, complementing the 30mm cannon on the Skyranger 30 which provides close-in defence against drones.

The LoI aims at long-term cooperation on integration of the missile plus development, production and installation of a launcher onto various turret systems and linking it to Rheinmetall’s digital system architecture.

Skyranger 30 has been adopted by Germany and Austria with Hungary looking to potentially integrate the system onto its future air defence variant of the Lynx KF41 tracked armoured vehicle. Denmark and Lithuania are also considering the system for potential future platforms.

The Skyranger 30 combines the 30mm 173 KCE revolver gun, surface-to-air missiles and the necessary sensor suite, all on a single platform.

The systems earmarked for Germany will be armed with Stinger missiles but depending on customer requirements, Skyranger 30 can be fitted with various modern guided missiles such as the Mistral, Stinger or special C-UAS weapons such as SADM.

Shephard's Eurosatory 2024 coverage is sponsored by: