Netherlands to purchase Rheinetall Skyranger 30 air defense missile system

General view of the Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft missile and gun system in the configuration for the Dutch army
The Netherlands is planning to strengthen its air defense forces with new equipment. To this end, it is ordering a batch of modern Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems from Germany. It is assumed that such equipment will take on the task of combating unmanned aerial vehicles of the main classes.
Future contract
On January 29, the State Secretary for Defence (Deputy Minister of Defence) of the Netherlands Gijs Tuinman presented plans for the purchase of foreign anti-aircraft missile and gun systems. More detailed information was then released by the press service of the military department.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has concluded that it is necessary to strengthen the existing Defense. It requires additional anti-aircraft systems capable of effectively combating the current threat in the form of UAVs of various classes and types. By now, the ministry has studied the available proposals and selected a model for purchase.
The choice fell on the latest Skyranger 30 air defense missile and gun system, developed by the German company Rheinmetall Defence. The combat module of this type is proposed to be installed on the ACSV G5 tracked chassis, also produced in Germany by Flensburger Fahrzeugbau. The resulting self-propelled missile and gun system fully meets the requirements of the Dutch army.
The Ministry of Defense is currently negotiating with the German supplier and clarifying the terms of the future contract. The supply contract itself will be signed later, but the exact date has not yet been announced. The cost of the contract also remains unknown.

Combat module "Skyranger-30"
The Netherlands intends to purchase 22 combat vehicles of the new type. The first batch should be delivered no later than 2028. The equipment will be placed at the disposal of the Army Air Defense Command and will be distributed among several units of the ground forces. It has already been reported that the staff of these units will be increased by 125 people to operate the new equipment.
It is expected that 22 Skyranger 30 SAM-PKK will significantly strengthen the Dutch air defense both quantitatively and qualitatively. At the same time, special attention is paid to expanding capabilities - such systems are purchased to strengthen a specific direction and combat a certain range of targets.
State of defense
Currently, the Dutch armed forces cannot boast of a powerful and developed air defense. They have a limited number of complexes and systems of several types, and in this respect, the Dutch army is inferior to most European armed forces.
However, this state of affairs is not considered a problem. This is explained by the country's geographical and military-political position, as well as the possibility of using NATO's collective security mechanisms.
The long-range air defense of the Netherlands consists of four anti-aircraft batteries. missile Patriot systems of American manufacture. The armament includes the latest versions of the PAC-2/3 air defense missile system. Two batteries of Norwegian-made NASAMS II air defense missile systems equipped with American AIM-120B missiles are used to intercept targets at medium ranges. Patriot and NASAMS are responsible for the defense of the country's territories.

Muzzle of the Oerlikon KCA gun with a programmer
Ground forces use American-made FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS for self-defense. The bulk of such weapons is used in its original portable configuration in infantry units and other branches of the armed forces. In addition, one of the anti-aircraft batteries is armed with up to 18 Fennek SWP self-propelled systems. This SAM is built on the basis of the armored car of the same name and has a launcher for 4 Stinger missiles.
In its current form, the Dutch Army's air defense is theoretically capable of intercepting aerodynamic targets of various types. However, the number of aircraft, the types of equipment used, and other factors may significantly limit the potential of this defense.
Against UAVs
The existing air defense system has limited capabilities to combat unmanned aerial vehicles. aviation. These tasks are planned to be assigned to the new imported ZRPK "Skyranger-30". It should be noted that the expectations of the Dutch command may be quite justified. The German combat module was developed taking into account various modern threats, including UAVs, and must be able to combat them.
The Netherlands plans to purchase German self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun systems. The combat vehicles for them will be built on the ACSV G5 tracked chassis and will receive the Skyranger 30 combat module. It is expected that this version of the anti-aircraft missile and gun system will combine high mobility, firepower and combat effectiveness.
The ACSV G5 chassis is a medium-sized tracked vehicle. It is built in a welded hull made of bulletproof/splinterproof armor and has a front-engine layout. Such a chassis can have a closed hull or a rear cargo platform. They are supposed to mount various payloads or modules.

Frontal part of the module. The AMMR radar AESA (near the gun) and the smoke grenade launcher unit are visible
The ACSV G5 is equipped with a 540 hp diesel engine and an automatic transmission. The chassis has six road wheels and a front drive wheel on each side. With a mass of up to 26 t and a payload of 8 t, this machine can reach speeds of over 70 km/h and overcome various obstacles.
The Skyranger 30 combat module is a compact unmanned turret with a total weight of no more than 2,5 tons. It can be installed on various carriers, as well as on stationary platforms. In addition, the anti-aircraft system includes an operator console and other equipment, which are located inside the carrier vehicle or at the control point.
The Skyranger 30's primary weapon is the 30mm Oerlikon KCA automatic cannon. It uses 30 x 137mm ammunition and has a rate of fire of up to 1000 rounds per minute. The cannon is equipped with a muzzle device for inputting data into the programmable fuses of the corresponding projectiles.
The left side of the module contains a launcher for small missiles. The ZRPK for the Netherlands will carry Stinger and Mistral man-portable missiles. The ready-to-use ammunition load consists of 2 missiles.
The module has a developed fire control system, including various means and devices. The AMMR radar with five active phased arrays located along the perimeter of the tower is designed to detect targets. The detection range of typical air targets is 20 km. There are also FIRST and TREO optical-electronic stations for target search and weapon guidance. The radar and OES were developed by Rheinmetall.

Skyranger 30 operator workstations inside the carrier vehicle
The Skyranger 30 project offers a certain freedom of choice. The customer can request replacement of certain components present in the basic configuration or installation of new ones. Whether the Netherlands will take advantage of such opportunities is still unknown.
A modern solution
It is not difficult to imagine what results the Dutch Ministry of Defense is counting on. First of all, it wants to increase the number of anti-aircraft systems in the ground forces and improve the overall performance of the country's air defense. In addition, the new Skyranger 30 air defense missile and gun systems will have to take on the fight against complex air targets, such as UAVs. The existing systems are simply not designed to solve such combat tasks.
The developer claims that its combat module with missile and gun armament is indeed capable of effectively combating drones. Thus, the presence of several different detection systems increases the probability of successful and timely detection, tracking and firing at an air target. In turn, the 30-mm automatic cannon should become an effective means of destruction.
The most important element of the system, due to which the increase in combat effectiveness is achieved, are projectiles with a programmable fuse. They must be detonated at a given point in space, near the target. In this case, the stream of fragments has the maximum impact. It is stated that during tests Skyranger 30 repeatedly demonstrated the high effectiveness of such fire on various targets.
Thus, the Netherlands plans to strengthen its air defense in quantitative and qualitative terms, and for this purpose they are purchasing a modern German missile-gun system. So far, we are talking about a limited number of combat vehicles with delivery in a few years. However, given the current state of affairs, such a purchase also looks useful and seriously changes the situation.
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