Rheinmetall Unveils Skyranger 35 Anti-Aircraft System on Leopard 1 Chassis, Proposes 10 Units for Ukraine
On September 18, 2024, the German defense concern Rheinmetall conducted the Skyranger System Demonstration 2024 event, during which it showcased a prototype of an air defense tank based on the Leopard 1, equipped with a 35-millimeter Skyranger 35 system, according to ZBiAM.
This event gathered defense officials, military personnel, and industry leaders from 26 countries. The demonstration marked the debut of the Skyranger 35 air defense system on the Leopard 1 platform, following its earlier appearance on the Leopard 2 chassis at the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition in Paris. With this unveiling, Rheinmetall has positioned the Skyranger 35 as a state-of-the-art solution for short-range air defense (SHORAD), specifically designed to address modern and future battlefield challenges.
The first demonstration of the Skyranger 35 firing test on the Leopard 1 did not meet expectations, as one of the control panel units failed. After replacing the unit, which took a day, the firing was successfully demonstrated the following day. The tank was built on the chassis of the Leopard 1A5BE, featuring an unmanned turret that can carry 252 rounds of ammunition. The effective firing range is 4 kilometers.
The Skyranger 35 is highly effective against a range of modern threats, including low, slow, and small (LSS) aerial targets like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It also performs Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) duties. Equipped with an advanced sensor suite, the Skyranger 35 can track multiple targets simultaneously.
According to a Rheinmetall spokesperson, the tank was designed to demonstrate that the Skyranger 35 module can be adapted to various chassis types.
The company plans to order at least 10 units of these tanks for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, while also aiming to sell to other potentially interested countries.