Rheinmetall, a leading German defense company, successfully conducted the first fire tests of its Skyranger 35 air defense system, mounted on the chassis of the Leopard 1 tank.
As noted by the experts of the defense portal Army Recognition, conducted at the Oxenboden test center in Studen, Switzerland, the fire tests are an important milestone in the development Rheinmetall of a new cost-effective self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG), ArmyInform reports.
The Skyranger 35 is seen as a modern alternative to the Flakpanzer Gepard anti-aircraft system introduced in 1976. As our editors reported, the Flakpanzer Gepard is used by Ukraine to protect against Russian cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. However, the new air defense system uses advanced technologies such as programmable munitions.
As noted by the Polish information resource zbiam.pl, the integration of the Skyranger 35 with the Leopard 1 chassis is a response to growing interest from various countries . This configuration provides flexibility as the system can be adapted to different chassis, including other tank platforms and armored vehicles.
In turn, the weapons market researchers from IKK Defense Express said that the chassis from the Leopard 1A5BE tank was used to create this demonstrator, the turret itself is made “unmanned”, and two crew members (the commander and the gunner) are located in the front part of the hull. Ammunition for 252 shots is placed in the tower itself, the effective firing range is 4 thousand meters.
It is worth recalling that the Skyranger 35 system is equipped with a 35-mm Oerlikon Revolver gun, which can fire at a nominal rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute, and in rapid single-shot mode — 200 shots per minute. Its effective range reaches 4,000 meters, and it is capable of hitting small unmanned aerial targets with high precision, especially in hovering or diving conditions.
What sets the Skyranger 35 apart is its integration with advanced targeting systems, including a 360-degree AESA search radar and a Ku-band tracking radar. These sensors work in conjunction with a fully stabilized electro-optical sensor unit, providing seamless detection and tracking of highly moving targets.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The system's turret is adapted for vehicles, with a lower profile and enhanced functionality compared to previous versions. Combined with Oerlikon Ahead air-burst munitions, the system is said to be able to effectively engage even the smallest aerial targets, making it particularly suitable for combating swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles.
In this regard, as Rheinmetall notes, with 252 ready-to-fire cartridges, the Skyranger 35 provides constant firepower and quick response in dynamic combat situations. This combination of high mobility, targeting accuracy and rate of fire makes the Skyranger 35 a quality tool for modern air defense, especially against new threats from unmanned aerial vehicles, which are becoming more common on today's battlefields.
Usage by Rheinmetall of existing platforms reflects its commitment to create cost-effective solutions without compromising performance. This approach reduces production and maintenance costs, and provides the military with scalable capabilities to increase its defense capabilities. The use of the Skyranger 35 on the Leopard 1 chassis is expected to accelerate the full combat deployment of this new mobile air defense system.
According to the Rheinmetall company, potential customers of the new system can be countries that seek to modernize their air defense systems efficiently and economically. As aerial threats become increasingly sophisticated, the development of versatile and responsive air defense solutions like the Skyranger 35 is set to be critical to enhancing global defense readiness.
According to the conclusions of Western military experts, Rheinmetall AG, which has more than a century of experience, continues to innovate in response to modern challenges in the field of defense. Specializing in automotive and defense technology, the company has played an important role in the development of the latest military equipment, including armored vehicles, weapons systems and ammunition.
Its latest achievement with the Skyranger 35 system expands Rheinmetall's product range and contributes to the provision of end-to-end solutions that meet the various needs of the armed forces around the world.
As ArmiyaInform reported, the German company Rheinmetall received an order from the Ukrainian government to build a plant for the production of ammunition in Ukraine. It is also known that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are armed with a number of Rheinmetall military equipment: Marder BMPs, Wiesel vehicles, Puma and Lynx BMPs, Skynex anti-aircraft systems, Leopard tanks of various modifications.