The Oerlikon Skyranger family, developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence, is a new-generation mobile short-range air defense system designed to protect military formations, strategic installations, and critical infrastructure against increasingly sophisticated aerial threats. Available in Skyranger 30, Skyranger 35, and Skyranger 762 variants, the family combines high-velocity 30 mm and 35 mm automatic cannons with programmable airburst ammunition, twin 7.62 mm Gatling machine guns for ultra-short-range drone interception, advanced radar surveillance, electro-optical tracking, and optional surface-to-air missiles. This modular, multilayered defense architecture provides protection against drones, loitering munitions, helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and selected incoming projectiles. Its adaptable design supports integration onto wheeled and tracked armored vehicles, unmanned ground platforms, and stationary installations, enabling effective air-defense coverage during maneuver operations or critical infrastructure protection missions.
Country users : Ukraine (operational); Germany, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, Belgium (ordered)
Key Technical Specifications:
- High-Rate Counter-Drone and C-RAM Firepower: The Skyranger 30 features a 30 mm KCE cannon firing up to 1,250 rounds/min at 3 km, while the Skyranger 35 uses a 35 mm KDG cannon delivering 1,000 rounds/min at 4 km. Both employ programmable airburst ammunition, with the 35 mm variant providing C-RAM capabilities. The Skyranger 762 uses twin 7.62 mm M134D Miniguns firing a combined 6,000 rounds/min at ranges up to 1.2 km.
- Hybrid Gun-Missile Defense and Modular Deployment: The Skyranger 30 combines its automatic cannon with two to four optional short-range missiles, extending engagement range to approximately 6 km. The lighter Skyranger 762 provides cost-effective close-range drone interception and can be mounted on tactical vehicles, unmanned ground platforms, or stationary installations.
- Autonomous Surveillance and Networked Air Defense: Skyranger 30 and 35 integrate AESA radar, electro-optical tracking, and infrared sensors for autonomous threat detection and engagement. The Skyranger 762 employs an EchoShield 4D Ku-band radar and electro-optical sensors. Rheinmetall's Oerlikon Skymaster command-and-control architecture enables coordinated operations across multiple air-defense platforms.
Technical Data
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Armament and Mission Systems
The Oerlikon Skyranger family combines high-rate automatic weapons with programmable airburst ammunition and optional short-range surface-to-air missiles. The Skyranger 30 is armed with a 30 × 173 mm KCE revolver cannon, firing up to 1,250 rounds per minute at ranges up to 3 km, while the Skyranger 35 uses a 35 × 228 mm KDG cannon delivering 1,000 rounds per minute at distances up to 4 km. Both employ Oerlikon Ahead airburst technology to intercept drones, loitering munitions, and other aerial threats. The lighter Skyranger 762 features twin 7.62 × 51 mm M134D Miniguns with a combined firing rate of 6,000 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 1.2 km, optimized for intercepting small drones and FPV threats.
The Skyranger 30 can integrate two to four short-range surface-to-air missiles, depending on configuration, extending its engagement range to approximately 6 km, alongside an optional coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. The Skyranger 35 provides additional counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) capability, while the Skyranger 762 offers a lightweight, high-volume-fire solution for ultra-short-range drone defense. Proposed high-energy laser and advanced missile integrations could further enhance the family's effectiveness against coordinated aerial attacks and drone swarms.
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Design and Protection
The Oerlikon Skyranger family features a modular, remotely operated weapon architecture designed for integration onto wheeled, tracked, and lightweight tactical vehicles. The Skyranger 30 employs a compact, unmanned turret without a conventional turret basket, reducing internal space requirements and facilitating installation on existing military platforms. The Skyranger 35 uses a heavier turret weighing approximately 3.8–4.7 tonnes, while the Skyranger 30 turret weighs approximately 2.5–3.4 tonnes in earlier configurations, depending on ballistic protection levels. The lighter Skyranger 762 features a compact, remotely controlled weapon station weighing approximately 700 kg, allowing integration onto 4×4 vehicles, pickup trucks, unmanned ground vehicles, and stationary platforms.
The Skyranger 30 offers ballistic protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 4, depending on configuration, alongside an armored maintenance hatch and optional Rheinmetall ROSY smoke-obscuration launchers. The Skyranger 35 incorporates configurable ballistic protection, while the Skyranger 762 prioritizes lightweight construction and remote operation for flexible deployment. The remote-controlled architecture allows operators to remain protected inside compatible host vehicles or operate the system remotely, while redundant control consoles on the larger variants improve operational survivability. The family's modular construction supports mission-specific adaptations without fundamentally redesigning the carrier platform.
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Mobility and Deployment
The Oerlikon Skyranger family is designed to accompany maneuvering military formations while providing flexible air-defense coverage for stationary installations and critical infrastructure. Its modular architecture supports integration onto wheeled and tracked platforms, including the Boxer 8×8, Pandur EVO 6×6, Piranha V 8×8, Lynx KF41, Leopard 1, and ACSV, depending on the variant and national configuration. The lightweight Skyranger 762 can also be mounted on 4×4 tactical vehicles, pickup trucks, unmanned ground vehicles such as the Rheinmetall Mission Master CXT, and stationary platforms. In the Boxer 8×8 configuration, an MTU diesel engine producing up to 600 kW (816 hp) provides road speeds exceeding 100 km/h and an operational driving range exceeding 1,000 km.
Skyranger systems can be deployed individually for localized air defense or organized into coordinated batteries protecting larger operational areas, depending on configuration. Integrated surveillance and fire-control equipment enables rapid establishment of defensive coverage following repositioning, while network connectivity supports distributed operations. The Skyranger 35 can engage ground targets while moving, although its documented aerial engagements are conducted from a stationary position. The Skyranger 762 provides additional deployment flexibility for mobile counter-drone missions and fixed-site protection, while dismounted and hooklift-mounted Skyranger configurations further expand defensive coverage options for critical infrastructure and military installations.
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Fire Control Unit and Sensor Systems
The Oerlikon Skyranger family incorporates an automated fire-control architecture combining advanced radar surveillance, electro-optical tracking, infrared imaging, and laser rangefinders. The Skyranger 30 features 360° three-dimensional AESA search radar, an optional Ku-band tracking radar, and the Fast Infrared Search and Track (FIRST) system for passive surveillance. The Skyranger 35 employs a dedicated sensor suite incorporating the XTR20 tracking radar and high-resolution electro-optical equipment. The lighter Skyranger 762 integrates an Echodyne EchoShield 4D Ku-band radar with a 30 km instrumented range, day and infrared cameras, and a laser rangefinder. Its automated fire-control system supports target detection, acquisition, tracking, and engagement control, including search and tracking while moving.
The integrated Oerlikon Skymaster command-and-control architecture enables independent operation or networked coordination between multiple Skyranger platforms. Through Skyranger Control Node 1 (CN1) and Control Node 2 (CN2), compatible systems can exchange tactical information, distribute target assignments, coordinate weapon engagements, and connect with higher-echelon air-defense networks. The Skyranger 30 and 35 incorporate digital communication links, identification friend-or-foe (IFF) capabilities, and redundant commander and gunner consoles, depending on configuration. The Skyranger 762 provides wireless operation through a single control interface and compatibility with Skymaster C2, allowing integration into wider air-defense networks while maintaining automated threat tracking and operator-controlled engagements.
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