IRIA News

4 minute read

The Danish Ministry of Defense’s Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI) has officially selected Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 30 as the new air defense system for the Danish Army. This decision is part of Denmark’s broader strategy to enhance its defense systems in response to evolving global threats.

The contract was formalized during a ceremony where Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, head of FMI, and Oliver Duerr, CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defense, signed the agreement. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Denmark as it aims to bolster its defensive readiness and protect its airspace from potential threats.

Lieutenant General Olsen said, “The signing of this contract is an important step toward establishing the brigade’s air defense, which is an essential part of making the brigade fully operational. The selection of the Skyranger turret and its machine cannon was made in close cooperation with our colleagues at the Defence Command.”

The Skyranger 30, a highly advanced mobile air defense system, is known for its versatility and precision. The system consists of a radar system, operations center, and integrated communication systems to provide a comprehensive defense solution.

Danish defense company Terma has been selected to integrate these systems, ensuring seamless functionality and reliability in operational settings. The inclusion of a local partner reflects Denmark’s commitment to fostering national expertise in advanced defense technologies.

The Skyranger 30 system can effectively counter short- and very short-range threats. It is an optimum combination of mobility, protection, flexibility, and precision. The system’s turret integrates the highly effective 30mm x 173 KCE revolver gun, surface-to-air missiles, and the necessary sensor suite, all on one platform.

The compact turret of the system is integrated into an 8×8 Boxer wheeled armored vehicle. The Rheinmetall statement highlighted that the state-of-the-art sensors, large elevation span, and high mobility enable autonomous and networked operations as well as make it “especially effective against drones”.

“The Skyranger 30 is embedded in the German government’s European Sky Shield Initiative, in which Germany, acting within a NATO context, has assumed the role of the lead nation in ground-based air defense in Europe,” it added.

The Rheinmetall describes the Skyranger mobile ground-based air defense system as the best solution for current and future battlefield air threats. The company highlighted that the system is equipped with “state-of-the-art search and tracking sensors which provide seamless 360° air and ground surveillance and accurate fire control data. The integrated 35 mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun provides ultimate firepower and precision.”

Denmark’s selection of the Skyranger 30 comes at a critical time as European nations increasingly focus on upgrading their military infrastructure. With the inclusion of state-of-the-art technology and a focus on collaboration between international and domestic defense companies, this initiative underscores Denmark’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of military modernization.

Earlier this year, Austria ordered 36 Skyranger 30 defense systems for its Pandur wheeled armored vehicles. In December 2023, Hungary awarded Rheinmetall to develop a concept for a Skyranger 30 turret for the future air defense variant of the Lynx KF41 tracked armored vehicle.

Other NATO and EU countries have also expressed interest in procuring the German air defense system. According to Rheinmetall, Denmark is planning to buy the Skyranger 30 system in combination with another wheeled armored vehicle, while Lithuania is also exploring the Boxer-mounted Skyranger 30 system.

In December 2023, Skyranger’s functional demonstrator version successfully conducted live-fire field tests in both stationary and on-the-move modes at the Group’s proving ground in Ochsenboden, Switzerland. According to Rheinmetall, the tests provided important new findings to make “fabrication and integration of the German verification model faster and less risk-prone”.