10/06/2026 | Press release

The technology group Rheinmetall showcases itself as a systems partner for national and international armed forces at this year’s International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA Berlin 2026), taking place from June 10 to 14, 2026. Under the theme of “Taking Responsibility in the Air Domain,” the Skyranger mobile air defense system will be a centerpiece of the company’s exhibition at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. 

Ground-based air defence has gained significant importance in Europe, particularly against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Numerous EU and NATO members, including Germany, have opted for Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 30 mobile air defence solution. The system offers an optimal combination of mobility, protection, flexibility, and precision to meet the growing demands of challenging threat scenarios in the close and immediate vicinity. At ILA 2026, Rheinmetall showcases the Skyranger 30 turret mounted on the Boxer 8x8 armored wheeled vehicle, equipped with MBDA’s DefendAir guided missile. With this combination of effectors, the Skyranger 30 is ideally equipped to decisively counter current and future threats.

The system addresses the urgent global demand for resilient and mobile close-range air defence. In light of modern threat scenarios—particularly the widespread use of drones and loitering munitions—the Skyranger closes a critical capability gap for Western armed forces.

Technological Precision and Modular Flexibility

The Skyranger combines state-of-the-art sensor technology with enormous firepower. At its core is the 30mmx173 KCE revolver cannon, which has an effective range of up to 3,000 meters. Through the use of programmable airburst munitions (Ahead), the system achieves an extremely high probability of hit against micro-drones.

For longer ranges, the turret is modular in design and can flexibly accommodate short-range air defense missiles (SHORAD). An integrated search radar and electro-optical sensors enable seamless 360-degree reconnaissance and target tracking, allowing the system to operate completely autonomously or as part of a networked system.

The standard for European air defense

The Skyranger is increasingly establishing itself as the European standard and is a central component of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).

The system’s international user base is growing steadily:

Germany:

The Bundeswehr has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver 19 Skyranger 30 air defence vehicles based on the Boxer platform. A first prototype was already delivered on schedule.

Austria:

As the launch customer in Europe, Austria is taking on a pioneering role. The Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) have ordered a total of 36 Skyranger 30 systems under a major contract worth a mid-triple-digit million euro amount, which will be integrated into the national GDELS Pandur EVO wheeled armored vehicle platform.

Netherlands:

In December 2025, a major order in the range of hundreds of millions of euros followed for the delivery of Skyranger systems for mobile and forward-deployed operations by the Dutch armed forces.

Romania:

As part of a historic, comprehensive defense procurement package totaling €5.7 billion, Romania has ordered the system in the Skyranger 35 variant based on the state-of-the-art Lynx combat vehicle family to sustainably modernize its ground-based air defense.

Denmark and other partners:

Denmark also plans to procure the Skyranger 30 solution. In addition, the system is intended for the Ukrainian armed forces to strengthen air defense there in the short term.

Thanks to its flexible architecture, the turret can be integrated onto various platforms. In addition to the Boxer wheeled armored vehicle, Rheinmetall is also showcasing the system internationally on tracked vehicles such as the Lynx KF41 or on truck chassis, underscoring its logistical adaptability to different customer needs.

Capacity Expansion to Meet Global Demand

Rheinmetall is responding to the immense market potential with a systematic ramp-up of production. Annual production capacity will be gradually expanded from the current level of around 70 to 100 turrets to up to 400 units per year to ensure the upcoming series production ramp-up.