Germany to Supply Ukraine with Skyranger 35 Air Defense Systems on Leopard 1 Tank Chassis.

German Company Rheinmetall announced on October 10, 2025, a new contract to deliver Skyranger 35 air defense systems to Ukraine, mounted on Leopard 1 tracked vehicles. The deal, worth hundreds of millions of euros, is financed by an EU member state using profits from frozen Russian assets, signaling a historic policy shift in European military funding.

German Company Rheinmetall confirmed on October 10, 2025, that it will supply Ukraine with Skyranger 35 mobile air defense systems based on the Leopard 1 chassis, marking another boost to Kyiv’s layered air defense network. The German defense manufacturer said the order, valued in the high hundreds of millions of euros, is funded entirely by an unnamed EU country through profits generated from frozen Russian assets. This innovative financing model represents a landmark in how Europe is sustaining military assistance to Ukraine amid ongoing Russian air strikes.
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Leopard 1-based Skyranger 35 air defense system on display at Eurosatory 2024, showcasing Rheinmetall’s latest integration of mobile short-range air defense capabilities designed for high-threat environments. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

Production and system integration will be carried out at Rheinmetall Italia SpA’s headquarters in Rome, reinforcing the growing role of Italy in Europe’s defense industrial response to the war in Ukraine. While Rheinmetall has not specified the quantity of systems to be delivered, the scale of the contract suggests the creation of at least one full-strength mobile air defense battalion capable of protecting strategic infrastructure, forward command elements, and key logistical corridors vulnerable to Russian aerial attacks.

The Skyranger 35 stands out as one of the most compact yet lethal short-range air defense (SHORAD) solutions currently fielded by NATO-aligned forces. Mounted on the Leopard 1 chassis, it offers a balance between armor protection, off-road mobility, and firepower, making it particularly well-suited to Ukraine’s fluid frontline environments where terrain often limits the effectiveness of wheeled platforms.

At the heart of the system is the KDG 35/1000 revolver cannon, chambered in 35x228mm and capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute. Its integration with Rheinmetall’s AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) airburst ammunition gives the Skyranger a decisive edge against the kinds of threats currently saturating Ukrainian airspace: Iranian-supplied Shahed-136 loitering munitions, Russian Lancet drones, and low-flying cruise missiles. Each AHEAD round releases a controlled burst of tungsten sub-projectiles, precisely timed to detonate in front of the target, forming a lethal cloud that increases hit probability even against small and fast-moving aerial platforms.

With an effective engagement range of up to 4 kilometers, the Skyranger 35 is engineered for high readiness and rapid response in contested airspace. It can operate autonomously or networked within broader air defense command structures, enhancing its role as a gap-filler in Ukraine’s increasingly layered defense architecture. Importantly, Rheinmetall has designed the turret to be modular, allowing future integration of short-range guided missiles. This will enable Ukraine to scale the system’s capabilities beyond kinetic gunfire, offering dual-mode engagement options against a wider spectrum of threats.

Ukraine’s demand for mobile air defense has become urgent. Since late 2023, Russia has intensified its use of low-cost unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and cruise missiles to target energy infrastructure, ammunition depots, and logistics nodes deep behind the front lines. Fixed-position systems like NASAMS and IRIS-T provide strong point defense but cannot be everywhere at once. The Skyranger 35’s mobility and rapid redeployment capability directly address this vulnerability, offering mobile, close-range protection where it is most needed.

Moreover, Ukraine’s integration of tracked SHORAD systems such as the Skyranger 35 marks a doctrinal evolution in how it counters aerial threats. Rather than relying solely on high-cost, high-value missile-based systems, Kyiv is building a multi-layered air defense umbrella that combines radar-guided guns, man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), and medium- to long-range missile platforms. The Skyranger fits into this structure as a maneuverable, survivable asset capable of protecting both frontline forces and rear-area logistics from saturation drone attacks.

The decision to mount the system on the Leopard 1 chassis, an older yet battle-proven platform, reflects a pragmatic approach to air defense mobility. While the Leopard 1 lacks the advanced armor of modern main battle tanks, its availability and ease of maintenance make it an ideal carrier for air defense missions. Rheinmetall’s use of this platform ensures interoperability with Ukraine’s growing inventory of donated Leopard vehicles while enabling rapid fielding due to existing support infrastructure.

This delivery contract not only enhances Ukraine’s immediate operational defense but also represents a strategic precedent. By channeling profits from frozen Russian state assets into frontline defense systems, the European Union signals a shift toward leveraging financial warfare tools into tangible military effects. As debates continue over the legal use of frozen Russian reserves, this Skyranger deal sets a practical example of how those funds can directly strengthen Ukraine’s sovereignty.

As the war enters another winter, the Skyranger 35’s presence on the battlefield is expected to significantly complicate Russia’s aerial threat calculus. Its combination of rapid-fire precision, mobility, and upgrade potential positions it as a key component of Ukraine’s evolving defense ecosystem, one that is increasingly defined by adaptability, resilience, and the effective integration of Western technology into the realities of high-intensity modern warfare.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.