Ukraine and German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall will sign an agreement to supply Skyranger air defense systems worth hundreds of millions of euros. Delivery is expected by the end of this year.
This was announced by Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger in an interview with ZTF. He added that the signing is scheduled for September 10 at the DSEI arms exhibition in London.
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From Defense Express we would like to add that this story is very important for strengthening Ukraine's air defense forces. With a range of up to 4 km and programmable ammunition, the systems offer enhanced capabilities against drones.
At the same time, the delivery timelines appear realistic, likely because the interview notes that Skyranger can be mounted on Leopard 1. This means that, in order to speed up production, old tanks will most likely be used as chassis. So, the first systems will be available this year.
The solution was first revealed publicly in September 2024, with potential delivery to Ukraine noted. With a turret capacity of 252 rounds, the vehicle can engage targets at distances up to 4 km.
Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are using old German Leopard 1 tanks, which were received as part of military aid. This means that their operation and maintenance will not be radically different. Moreover, this will allow the use of vehicles that could not be restored to full tank functionality.
It should be noted that manufacturing of the anti-aircraft turrets also requires time, further questioning the feasibility of the contract. Ukraine is likely to be supplied either through another contract or with previously released models, including the publicly unveiled demonstrator. It is worth noting that Ukraine ordered Spexer 2000 Mk 3 radars from Hensoldt at the end of July. These radars, installed on Skyranger, may be connected to the agreement.
It should be noted that not all details of the contract with Rheinmetall are known yet. It is possible that some air defense systems will be mounted on Leopard tanks, while others will use Boxer vehicles or platforms yet to arrive. In any case, only one or a few systems are expected by year-end, with the rest arriving later.
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