Netherlands to purchase Rheinetall Skyranger 30 air defense missile system

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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.
15 comments
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  1. -8
    4 February 2025 05: 24
    Good target for fpv on a thread
  2. +3
    4 February 2025 05: 57
    Is there anything similar in the second army in the world?
    1. -3
      4 February 2025 09: 08
      Quote: Clever man
      Is there anything similar in the second army in the world?

      Tunguska with two stingers? Of course not. Now the Netherlands are the main ones in NATO for air defense. They will cover everyone with their umbrella. This powerful thing will work everyone, it's clear as day
      P.S. Or did you mean the States?
      1. +3
        4 February 2025 09: 22
        You will throw hats at all your enemies
        1. -1
          4 February 2025 09: 35
          Did I write something about hats? In the current situation on the battlefield, Ukraine supplies only manpower (meat) and territory. Everything else: reconnaissance, communications, armored vehicles, aviation, artillery, missile weapons, BEKs are supplied by NATO countries. They just haven't supplied atomic bombs.
          So what? Don't you think that someone in the West has shit themselves?
      2. 0
        4 February 2025 13: 15
        Stingers because they have a minimum firing range of 200 meters, and not 2,5 km like the Tunguska missiles. Which won't hit the drone with guns and probably won't be seen by Fpv/
    2. 0
      4 February 2025 19: 49
      There was the 2S38 "Derivation", but as always, only a couple of prototypes were produced for parade troops, and it never went into serial production.
  3. +5
    4 February 2025 07: 27
    Where is our "deration"? Is the only model stuck at exhibitions again? It has no analogues and is going to break through, so instead of it, guys with shotguns are walking on the front lines
  4. +2
    4 February 2025 10: 26
    The Skyranger 30's primary weapon is the 30mm Oerlikon KCA automatic cannon. It fires 30mm ammunition. 137 mm and shows a rate of fire of up to 1000 rounds/min.

    The author made a typo: the ammunition for this gun is 30x173 mm. In any case, this is exactly what is prescribed for this gun in other sources. Then the characteristics of the projectile velocity and range do not raise questions.
  5. 0
    4 February 2025 10: 33
    An interesting point. The chassis on which this ash truck was assembled had rubber tracks. How can they be restored after combat damage? And is it even possible to restore them without replacing them with new ones in the field?
    1. +2
      4 February 2025 13: 14
      You can replace both the tire, fortunately it is half the weight of a metal one, in two hours. These are composite tracks CRT (Composite Rubber Track) from Soucy Defense. Third class of protection according to the STANAG standard. Many people use it. The Koreans, for example, converted their K9
  6. 0
    4 February 2025 13: 45
    It is strange that the Bundeswehr is going "two calibers with AHEAD" for the MZA.
    35mm - initially used for naval Millenniums, then for Skyguards (the same Millennium, but in the container version Mantis (4 ZU, KP, radars/OLS) for guarding bases in Afghanistan, for example). Then they decided to make the ZU Skyguard more mobile, and began to mount it on a truck.

    30mm - for some reason Rheinmetall began to offer this option for "close air defense", although the range in this case was reduced, compared to 35mm. And for some reason, it was 30mm that was accepted by the Bundeswehr and the Austrian "Bundeschegototam". Now the Netherlands is also taking the 30mm module.

    "Depending on the tactical needs and the required target spectrum, the Skyranger can be equipped with either the 35mm x 228 KDG revolver cannon or the 30mm x 173 KCE revolver cannon. Both cannons feature high rates of fire, excellent accuracy and air burst ammunition. The 35mm provides C-RAM capability and an effective range of up to 4000m. The 30mm has an effective range of up to 3000m and the gun turret is also designed to carry short-range air defence missiles." https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/products/air-defence/air-defence-systems/mobile-air-defence-skyranger

    And now (since Bongo doesn’t write crying ), a brief explanation: C-RAM, that is, what Rheinmetall does, is not against drones, or rather, drones are not the most difficult target. This is against missiles (typical target is Grad missile), artillery and mortar shells..

    And the illustration is just an illustration.
    You can find an article about this buggy yourself on Military Review.
    1. +1
      4 February 2025 20: 45
      A turret for 30mm is not twice as light. And 30 × 173 mm is a Boxer, CV90, which the Dutch already have
  7. -1
    4 February 2025 21: 41
    Are there shrapnel rounds for the 30mm guns of the Tunguska? You can't hit a drone with the standard Tunguska and Pantsir rounds, I haven't heard anything new about programmed shells, and it's not worth installing programmers on old machines. But shrapnel for one gun, for maximum optical detection, and shrapnel for buckshot for the other gun, could both shoot down UAVs and lay down barrage fire.
  8. 0
    5 February 2025 11: 55
    Unfortunately, I don't have my own plant. Otherwise, I would give the design department the order to develop the installation (together with a radar professional).
    On the Ural with a double armored cabin and a long frame, in the place where the KMU is installed, install a retractable radar. In the body of the ZPU 4 14,5 caliber and an armored box for ammunition.