Netherlands orders Skyranger 30 air defense systems from Rheinmetall.

On December 11, 2025, the Netherlands signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the procurement of Skyranger 30 very-short-range air defense systems in mobile and static configurations, including training simulators and support elements.

On December 11, 2025, the Netherlands signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the acquisition of Skyranger 30 very-short-range air defense systems, covering mobile platforms, static systems, and simulators. The agreement implements a January 2025 policy decision to procure 22 Skyranger 30s mounted on ACSV Gen 5 tracked armored vehicles to address short-range aerial threats, including unmanned aerial systems. Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2029.
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The Netherlands participates in initiatives such as the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), where short-range solutions like the Skyranger 30 are envisioned to complement missile systems such as the NASAMS, the Patriot, and the SAMP/T. (Picture source: Dutch MoD)

The contract with Rheinmetall to acquire Skyranger 30 air defense systems covers mobile weapon platforms, static configurations, and training simulators, as part of a broader effort to strengthen protection against short-range aerial threats, particularly drones. The acquisition is positioned as a reinforcement of the Dutch ground-based air defense structure, complementing existing short, medium, and long-range systems, while addressing the growing need to protect both deployed forces and key national infrastructure. The contract signature follows a policy decision taken in January 2025, when the Netherlands committed to introducing a new very-short-range air defense capability to close gaps identified in recent operational assessments.

The January decision set the framework for procuring 22 Skyranger 30 systems mounted on ACSV Gen 5 tracked armored vehicles, with an explicit focus on countering unmanned aerial systems and other low-flying threats in the very-short-range domain. Within this concept, the systems are intended to protect maneuver units in the field while also contributing to homeland defense missions, including the protection of military bases and critical civilian infrastructure such as the Port of Rotterdam. The Skyranger 30 is planned to be integrated into the Dutch Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command (DGLC) centered at Lieutenant-General Best Barracks in Vredepeel, with an increase of approximately 125 personnel foreseen to support operation, maintenance, and command functions.

The Skyranger 30 is optimized for the engagement of drones with a mass of up to 600 kg, reflecting a focus on threats ranging from small reconnaissance systems to larger loitering or strike-capable drones. The engagement range for this variant of the Skyranger system extends to approximately 5 km, emphasizing rapid reaction and close-in defense rather than area coverage. Interestingly, the Netherlands is procuring both mobile configurations mounted on ASCV armored vehicles and ground-based, static configurations, allowing the same core system to be used flexibly for maneuver support or point defense. Additional elements included in the package comprise tactical-level control nodes and hooklift transport platforms, enabling rapid relocation and deployment of the stationary systems.

The Skyranger 30 turret, which has recently drawn interest from Saudi Arabia and Belgium, centers on a 30 mm x 173 KCE revolver cannon, combined with an integrated sensor suite that includes a tracking radar to detect, track, and engage aerial targets. The Skyranger 30 is also designed to employ programmable airburst ammunition, with detonation points set to increase effectiveness against small, fast, and low-signature targets such as drones. Like many of Rheinmetall's products, the turret architecture is modular, with provisions for future growth, including the potential integration of surface-to-air guided missiles, which would extend engagement options beyond gun range depending on the selected effector. The overall order value for the Netherlands is described as being in the high triple-digit million € range, with first deliveries planned before the end of 2028 and final delivery and project completion targeted by the end of 2029.

For the mobile variant, the Skyranger 30 will be mounted on the tracked Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV), specifically the ACSV Gen 5 variant. The ACSV is a modular tracked vehicle developed by the German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) as a replacement option for aging M113-based support vehicles, with development starting in 2012 as a private initiative. It was first publicly presented in 2014 and entered serial production in 2021, with Norway identified as the first confirmed operator. The vehicle, which offers a payload capacity of up to 9,000 kg, could be used in multiple configurations, including command and control, medical evacuation, logistics, recovery, and air defense roles, optimizing logistics and maintenance efficiency.

Industrial execution of the Skyranger 30 program is split between Rheinmetall Switzerland and Rheinmetall Nederland, reflecting an approach that combines initial system development with domestic industrial participation. The first three prototypes are to be produced in Switzerland, while Rheinmetall Nederland’s facility in Ede is assigned a significant role in the production and assembly of the remaining systems. The scope of the contract also includes classroom simulators, system integration, and a comprehensive integrated logistics support package, indicating an emphasis on sustainment and training alongside hardware delivery. This structure aligns with the Netherlands’ broader approach of tying capability upgrades to long-term support and industrial involvement.

Within the wider Dutch air defense context, the Skyranger-30 procurement is part of a layered approach managed under the Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command, which operates a mix of very short, short, medium, and long-range systems. These include FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS, NASAMS for medium-range air defense, and Patriot systems for long-range and ballistic missile defense, with units such as 800 Support Squadron and 802 Patriot Squadron playing key roles. The Netherlands is also pursuing modernization through systems like the NOMADS, planned on the same ACSV platform as the Skyranger 30, and armed with AIM-9X II Sidewinder missiles. In addition to ground-based systems, the Royal Netherlands Air Force continues to contribute to air defence through the operation of F-35 Lightning II fighters, which provide airspace control, surveillance, and interception capabilities that complement ground-based radars and missile systems.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.