Germany is acquiring Skyranger 30 mobile air defense systems for the military’s Boxer 8×8 armored vehicles.
The Bundeswehr ordered a prototype and another 18 series production vehicles from the German company Rheinmetall under a contract valued at about $645.2 million and comes with an option for 30 additional air defense systems.
The prototype is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024.
The contract follows an agreement between the Bundeswehr and Rheinmetall to develop a short-range air defense system known as NNbS.
According to Rheinmetall, Skyranger 30 ensures “mobility, protection, flexibility and precision,” and can counter short- and very short-range threats.
The Duesseldorf-based defense technology provider touts Skyranger 30 as a hybrid system that combines the power of a 30 mm x 173 KCE revolver gun and surface-to-air missiles. Depending on customer requirements, the system can also be equipped with modern guided missiles such as Stinger and Mistral or special counter-unmanned aerial system missiles.
Austria is the first nation to acquire Skyranger 30 systems. Its armed forces, Bundesheer, signed the contract to purchase 36 systems for mounting on its Pandur EVO vehicles.