Autor fotografie: Rheinmetall AG, Public domain|Popisek: Skyranger 30
To close the existing capability gaps in mobile defence against drones at short range, Rheinmetall Electronics and MBDA Deutschland signed a corresponding Letter of Intent (LOI) at ILA 2024.
The companies intend to integrate MBDA's Small Anti Drone Missile (SADM) into the Skyranger 30 and other Rheinmetall military vehicles. Utilising Enforcer technologies, this new guided missile offers an effective solution against small and medium-sized drones providing a high hit probability at long stand-off distances. For its part, the 30mm cannon on the Skyranger 30 offers highly efficient, mobile defence against airborne threats by combining firepower, intelligent sensor technology and high mobility at shorter ranges. This means that the two weapons complement each other perfectly.
The Letter of Intent aims at a long-term cooperation for the integration of the missile into the Skyranger 30 and other military vehicles as well as the development, production and integration of a launcher onto various turret systems and Rheinmetall’s digital system architecture. On the MBDA stand at ILA, location G3/001, the missile is displayed on the turret of the Skyranger 30 system.
Thomas Gottschild, Managing Director of MBDA Germany: “The current conflicts have clearly shown that drone defence is one of the key challenges for armed forces. In order to provide the best possible solution, we are joining forces and building on our partnership with Rheinmetall and their turret solutions to close capability gaps in drone defence with the help of our Small Anti Drone Missile.”
Timo Haas, Chief Digital Officer von Rheinmetall: “As the prime contractor for the Skyranger 30 system in Germany, the Small Anti-Drone Missile is an ideal and logical addition to the capabilities of Rheinmetall's systems and vehicles. We are working in advance and are already creating the conditions for the industrial set-up in order to quickly implement the customer's decisions.”
Skyranger 30
The Skyranger family offers mobile defence against all current and future battlefield air threats. The Skyranger combines superior firepower, active and passive sensors and the dynamics needed to engage the most demanding targets performing loiter, pop-up or dive attacks. The use of best-in-class cannon systems means that the Skyranger can stand its ground against swarming attacks and its mobility means that it can be deployed alongside ground forces or for stationary vital-asset protection. The Skyranger can independently generate its own local air picture whilst its command and control architecture (Skymaster), IFF and data link mean that it can be seamlessly integrated into the battle order and command structure.
Depending on the tactical needs and the required target spectrum, the Skyranger can be equipped with a 35 mm x 228 KDG revolver cannon or a 30 mm x 173 KCE revolver cannon. Both cannons are characterised by a high rate of fire, excellent precision and airburst ammunition. The 35mm calibre offers C-RAM capability and an effective range of up to 4,000m. The 30 mm calibre has an effective range of up to 3,000m and the gun turret is designed to also mount short-range air defence missiles.
The highly modular design approach chosen allows customized active or passive sensor configurations. These include AESA radars, passive panoview systems and optronic packages. Advanced algorithms are used to fuse the sensor data together, classify the targets and support the operators in their decision making. As the threats evolve, so does the Skyranger. Integration of a high-energy laser or vertically launched C-PGM missiles is being explored.
Source: Rheinmetall