The first German Skyranger 35 systems on Leopard 1 tank chassis will arrive in Ukraine next week. This information was provided by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.
Therefore, the promise made when the first information about the contract emerged that these air defense systems would begin to be delivered by the end of 2025 will be fulfilled. Although the number of systems ordered is unknown, their cost amounts to hundreds of millions of euros.
Read more: Schakal Wheeled IFV by Rheinmetall and KNDS: What This €21 Million Combat Vehicle Can Do
This rapid progress is possible because only the turret needs to be produced, with the chassis being sourced from tanks already in storage. The latter may not be suitable for delivery in their current condition because of their technical state.
This also benefits Ukraine, as it uses both the Leopard 1 tanks and vehicles built on its chassis. These include engineering vehicles, bridge layers, and the well-known Gepard/Cheetah anti-aircraft guns, whose success has sparked renewed interest in this type of air defense system.
As for the Skyranger 35, it is designed to intercept various unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the Gerbera and Shahed drones. It is also known that the system can intercept cruise missiles, a capability already tested in practice by the Skynex, currently in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The contract for the anti-aircraft guns has not been disclosed, but its value has been referred to as a "three-digit million" sum—roughly one hundred million euros, though it likely totals several hundred million euros. It was funded by an undisclosed European country using frozen russian assets.
The exact number of Skyranger 35s Rheinmetall has ordered for Ukraine under this contract is currently unknown. However, even the Germans are planning to purchase hundreds of units as part of a large-scale procurement program to strengthen their armed forces.
It is also unclear whether Ukrainian Skyranger 35s will only be based on Leopard 1 chassis, or whether they will eventually be manufactured on other platforms, such as Boxer armored vehicles or Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. The latter would be beneficial, as there are plans to localize them in Ukraine, but no funding has been found for this yet.
Read more: France's Air and Space Force Faces Long Wait for the RapidFire Anti-Drone Guns Despite Urgent Need
