Skyranger 30
| Skyranger 30 | |
|---|---|
 Skyranger 30 on a Boxer chassis | |
| Type | VSHORAD |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall Air Defence AG |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | turret only: 2–2.5 t |
| Length | turret only: 5.175 mm |
| Width | turret only: 2.568 mm |
| Height | turret only: 1.444 mm |
| Crew | 3 |
| Caliber | 30x173 mm |
| Maximum firing range | gun: 3000 m missile: 5–8 km |
| Armor | STANAG 4569 Level 2, upgradable to Level 4 |
The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defense turret system developed Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly Oerlikon) and first revealed in March 2021. Its role is to provide ground units with a mobile system capable of engaging fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, Group I and II unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions and cruise missiles.[1][2]
A Pindad Badak with a mockup turret of the Oerlikon Skyranger 30 was shown during Indo Defence 2022 Expo & Forum.[3]
Design
The Skyranger 30 follows the same general configuration as the Skyranger 35, a remote turret with a 1.414 m-diameter turret ring, but with less weight of 2-2.5 tonnes enabling it to be installed on lighter 6×6 wheeled vehicles. The turret features a central armored structure with basic protection of Level 2, which can be fitted with add-on armor to increase to Level 4. A hatch in the hull ceiling is available for the vehicle commander to view the battlefield from outside. It is fitted with a modified version of the Oerlikon KCA 30 mm cannon used on the Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet named the KCE. While it has a shorter effective range than the Skyranger 35 of 3 km, it has a higher rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute; it maintains the ability to elevate 85° to combat terminal diving targets and 252 ready rounds are carried. The gun fires a 30 mm airburst munition based on the 35 mm AHEAD ammunition carrying 160 tungsten cylinders weighing 200 grams in total which is time-programmed upon leaving the muzzle to open up in front of a target to form a lethal cone. During a test carried out against an eight-drone swarm, an 18-round burst successfully neutralized it, with most destroyed by the first six rounds. A coaxial machine gun can also be fitted on the left of the main gun for use as a self-defense weapon.[1][2][4]
Due to the system’s reduced weight, the Skyranger 30 turret is able to integrate two short-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). Missiles guided by laser beam riding or infrared homing such as the FIM-92 Stinger or Mistral can be integrated, as well as the SkyKnight. Depending on the type, missiles extend range up to 8-9 km while the gun covers the space under their minimum engagement range.[1][2][4]
To detect targets, the Skyranger 30 uses the S-band AESA Multi-Mission Radar (AMMR) developed by Rheinmetall Italia. Five flat antennas integrated around the turret provide full 360° coverage. The AMMR has a detection range of over 20 km for a 1 m2 RCS aircraft, 12 km against hovering helicopters, 10 km against missiles, and 5 km against RAM targets and micro-UAS. For passive detection, the vehicle is installed with Rheinmetall’s FIRST (Fast InfraRed Search and Track), which is optimized to detect pop-up targets such as helicopters. Identification and tracking is handled by a compact target tracker that includes one HD cooled MWIR thermal camera, one full-HD TV camera, and two laser rangefinders, one devoted to air targets and the other for land targets.[1][5]
Additional add-ons are under consideration, including electronic warfare systems in the form of passive emitter locators to pick up UAV data link signals, as well as RF-jammers to jam such links to neutralize UAVs without using kinetic effectors.[1]
In late 2021, Rheinmetall unveiled the Skyranger 30 high-energy laser (HEL), intended to increase the system's ability to neutralize small targets at greater range and lower cost. The initial power level is 20 kw, with an immediate goal to increase it to 50 kw and an ideal goal of 100 kw.[6][7]
Operators
Future operators
Hungary - The government of Hungary signed a MoU in 2021 about developing a Lynx-based air defense vehicle using the Skyranger 30 turrets with Mistral missiles.[2][8]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Rheinmetall Air Defence unveils its Skyranger 30 (upgraded). European Defence Review. 3 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Countering RAM, drones and other flying objects with highly mobile assets, Rheinmetall’s solutions. European Defence Review. 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Indo Defence 2022: Rheinmetall offers local production of Skyranger GBAD system for Indonesia". Janes Information Services. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Rheinmetall unveils Skyranger 30 air-defence system". Janes Information Services. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021.
- ^ MSU S: increased short range air defence situational awareness from Rheinmetall. European Defence Review. 7 July 2022.
- ^ Skyranger 30 HEL adds laser weapon to mobile air defense arsenal. New Atlas. 7 February 2022.
- ^ "Rheinmetall introduces Skyranger 30 with high-energy laser". Janes Information Services. 7 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Kiszivárgott: újfajta légvédelmi rendszerek beszerzését fontolgatja Magyarország".