German armed forces take delivery of Rheinmetall’s Boxer Skyranger verification model

Rheinmetall announced on February 5 that it delivered the first Boxer Skyranger 30 cannon-based air defence vehicle to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) at the end of January 2025. 

This system is the so-called verification model, which will be used for the Bundeswehr’s required approval. After the user has been instructed in how to operate the vehicle, the admission trial will begin in spring 2025. Serial delivery will mainly take place in 2027 and early 2028.

At the end of February 2024, the Bundeswehr commissioned Rheinmetall to develop and deliver one verification model and 18 series production vehicles of the Skyranger 30 cannon-based air defence tank on the Boxer vehicle.

The Skyranger 30 is a hybrid system with a turret that combines the 30mmx173 KCE revolver cannon, ground-to-air guided missiles and the necessary sensors on a single platform. The AHEAD-ammunition with a programmable airburst position makes the system particularly suitable for countering drones. In Germany, the Skyranger 30 will initially be equipped with the Stinger anti-aircraft weapon. It is expected to be later converted to a newly developed specialised drone defence missile.

Skyranger 30 is part of the European Sky Shield initiative. Most recently, the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that the Netherlands will procure 22 Skyranger 30 systems. 

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Rheinmetall

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