The German defense giant revealed the cost of its Skynex and Skyranger "anti-Shahed" systems, a relevant disclosure given the ongoing deliveries to Ukraine and the Bundeswehr's ambitious procurement plans.
According to Rheinmetall's presentation outlining its roadmap through 2030, one complete system for either platform costs approximately €60 million.
Read more: Rheinmetall's Skynex in Ukraine Proves Effective Not Only Against Shahed Drones but Also Against Kh-101 and Kalibr Missiles
While substantial, this figure is still lower than the previously reported €73 million.
A standard Skynex battery consists of:
- four 35 mm cannons,
- a standalone multispectral radar,
- a command post.
This configuration is typical for a fixed air-defense system.
The Skyranger 35 setup is more unusual. Each system includes only four self-propelled guns. For the chassis, Rheinmetall proposes not the commonly mentioned Boxer wheeled vehicle or Leopard tank hulls, but the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle, which is a newly introduced variant.
Using a tracked platform increases cost, but excluding legacy hulls like the Leopard 1 (viable only if available in storage), even the Boxer platform offers limited savings. Its Schakal variant can exceed €20 million per vehicle.
Rheinmetall confirms that Ukraine has already received all four Skynex systems. This means up to 16 stationary guns, which have proven effective against drones and cruise missiles.
As for the Skyranger 35, the first systems mounted on Leopard 1 chassis are expected to be handed over to Ukraine's Defense Forces next week. This likely enabled rapid delivery. The total contract volume remains undisclosed, although its value reaches into the hundreds of millions of dollars and is funded by a European country using frozen russian assets.
This indicates that Ukraine will receive more than one system, and some may be considerably cheaper than the €60 million benchmark thanks to the use of existing tank hulls. It remains unknown whether subsequent batches will continue using the Leopard 1 platform or switch to alternatives such as the Boxer or Lynx.
Read more: Hungary and UAE's SkyKnight Mini-Missile Add-On for Skynex Could be Impactful Against Shaheds
