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Skyranger 30
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Skyranger 30
The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defence turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly Oerlikon) and first revealed in March 2021. Its role is to provide ground units with a mobile system capable of engaging fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, Group I and II unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions and cruise missiles.
Following the end of the Cold War, most Western land forces divested their mobile air defence assets. This caused a gap to appear which would leave them vulnerable as air threats returned in the early 21st century, as demonstrated during conflicts such as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. To address this, Rheinmetall Air Defence developed the Skyranger 30 concept demonstrator and publicly displayed it in March 2021.
Starting in 2018, Rheinmetall Air Defence's product management department, under the leadership of Michael Gerber and Moritz Vischer, conceptually designed the Skyranger 30. An in-depth analysis by Moritz Vischer of ammunition effect, effective range, turret dimensions and cost was conducted and led to the finalization of the concept. By opting to use the 30mmx173 KCE revolver cannon, a lighter turret design compared to the Skyranger 35 (35mmx228) turret was achievable. This allows for the integration of other air defence effectors such as SHORAD anti-aircraft missiles, high energy lasers or short range drone interceptors, thus creating a highly mobile hybrid air defence system. By including an AESA search radar into the turret structure and using a high-performance optical tracker all relevant air defence functions (search, track engage) are combined in one unmanned turret.
The product management department spearheaded a small dedicated development team to produce a concept demonstrator. This Skyranger 30 A0 turret concept demonstrator was used from 2020 onward for development risk reduction and marketing activities. Michael Gerber's experience in the development of the Skyranger 35, the KDG revolver gun and the Millennium naval gun flowed into the general design of the Skyranger 30. Besides being a concept demonstrator, the Skyranger 30 A0 turret was also successfully used as a platform to combine and showcase Rheinmetall's full range of capabilities and products (e.g. Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY), Fast Infrared Search and Track Sensor (FIRST)).[citation needed]
Due to the COVID pandemic, a live internet announcement event was conducted on December 16, 2020 to unveil the concept and turret. This was the first time such an event was used to unveil a major weapon system. At ILA 2022 Air Show in Berlin the Skyranger 30 A0 Turret was presented on a GTK Boxer.[citation needed]
In December 2023, the Skyranger 30A1 development testbed was tested in live-fire exercises at the Ochsenboden proving ground in stationary and mobile modes. Total system qualification of the Skyranger 30A3 version is expected in mid-2024.
The Skyranger 30 follows the same general configuration as the Skyranger 35, a remote turret with a 1.414 m-diameter turret ring, but with less weight of 2-2.5 tonnes enabling it to be installed on lighter 6×6 wheeled vehicles. The system is designed to both be operated autonomously and in networked operations.
It is fitted with the Oerlikon KCE cannon, a modified version of the Oerlikon KCA 30 mm cannon used on the Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet. While it has a shorter effective range than the Skyranger 35 at 3 km, it has a higher rate of fire of 1,250 rounds per minute. It maintains the ability to elevate 85° to combat terminal diving targets.
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Skyranger 30
The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defence turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly Oerlikon) and first revealed in March 2021. Its role is to provide ground units with a mobile system capable of engaging fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, Group I and II unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions and cruise missiles.
Following the end of the Cold War, most Western land forces divested their mobile air defence assets. This caused a gap to appear which would leave them vulnerable as air threats returned in the early 21st century, as demonstrated during conflicts such as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. To address this, Rheinmetall Air Defence developed the Skyranger 30 concept demonstrator and publicly displayed it in March 2021.
Starting in 2018, Rheinmetall Air Defence's product management department, under the leadership of Michael Gerber and Moritz Vischer, conceptually designed the Skyranger 30. An in-depth analysis by Moritz Vischer of ammunition effect, effective range, turret dimensions and cost was conducted and led to the finalization of the concept. By opting to use the 30mmx173 KCE revolver cannon, a lighter turret design compared to the Skyranger 35 (35mmx228) turret was achievable. This allows for the integration of other air defence effectors such as SHORAD anti-aircraft missiles, high energy lasers or short range drone interceptors, thus creating a highly mobile hybrid air defence system. By including an AESA search radar into the turret structure and using a high-performance optical tracker all relevant air defence functions (search, track engage) are combined in one unmanned turret.
The product management department spearheaded a small dedicated development team to produce a concept demonstrator. This Skyranger 30 A0 turret concept demonstrator was used from 2020 onward for development risk reduction and marketing activities. Michael Gerber's experience in the development of the Skyranger 35, the KDG revolver gun and the Millennium naval gun flowed into the general design of the Skyranger 30. Besides being a concept demonstrator, the Skyranger 30 A0 turret was also successfully used as a platform to combine and showcase Rheinmetall's full range of capabilities and products (e.g. Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY), Fast Infrared Search and Track Sensor (FIRST)).[citation needed]
Due to the COVID pandemic, a live internet announcement event was conducted on December 16, 2020 to unveil the concept and turret. This was the first time such an event was used to unveil a major weapon system. At ILA 2022 Air Show in Berlin the Skyranger 30 A0 Turret was presented on a GTK Boxer.[citation needed]
In December 2023, the Skyranger 30A1 development testbed was tested in live-fire exercises at the Ochsenboden proving ground in stationary and mobile modes. Total system qualification of the Skyranger 30A3 version is expected in mid-2024.
The Skyranger 30 follows the same general configuration as the Skyranger 35, a remote turret with a 1.414 m-diameter turret ring, but with less weight of 2-2.5 tonnes enabling it to be installed on lighter 6×6 wheeled vehicles. The system is designed to both be operated autonomously and in networked operations.
It is fitted with the Oerlikon KCE cannon, a modified version of the Oerlikon KCA 30 mm cannon used on the Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet. While it has a shorter effective range than the Skyranger 35 at 3 km, it has a higher rate of fire of 1,250 rounds per minute. It maintains the ability to elevate 85° to combat terminal diving targets.
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