Breakthrough! Skyranger 30 based on LYNX KF41

The Düsseldorf technology group Rheinmetall has achieved an important success in the marketing of the new air defense system Skyranger 30 as part of the European Sky Shield Initiative. The NATO and EU member state Hungary has commissioned Rheinmetall Hungary with the conceptual development of the Skyranger 30 turret for the future air defense variant of the Lynx KF41. The contract was signed on December 15, 2023 in Budapest.

The development contract represents an order intake of nearly 30 million euros for the company. With the adaptation development of the Skyranger 30 turret for the tracked vehicle Lynx and the integration of additional effectors, the needs of the Hungarian customer are met in view of the current threat situation, and the Lynx family is thus expanded with another significant member in the future.

The contract highlights the company's leading role in short-range air defense worldwide and its innovative power for the further development of state-of-the-art air defense systems. Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30 offers the ideal solution in current scenarios, e.g. for the defense against drone attacks or other threats from the air.

The Lynx Skyranger 30 will be a groundbreaking air defense system based on the proven Lynx infantry fighting vehicle. By integrating the state-of-the-art Skyranger air defense system, an even more effective and versatile air defense capability is achieved. 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 very close range. As a hybrid solution, its turret combines a powerful 30mm cannon, surface-to-air missiles, and the necessary sensors on one platform. Depending on customer requirements, various modern guided missiles can be used, such as Mistral, Stinger, or Chiron.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG: "Rheinmetall makes an important contribution to the security and defense capability of our customers with the Lynx Skyranger 30. The company remains committed to providing innovative solutions that meet constantly changing threats. With this development contract, we are once again setting standards in air defense technology. The Lynx Skyranger 30 offers an outstanding ability to defend against various threats, including ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. We are proud to offer our customers worldwide an advanced solution that optimally meets their security needs."

The development of the Skyranger 30 is being carried out by a highly qualified team of engineers and experts in collaboration with various companies of the Rheinmetall Group. The company has many years of experience in the development and integration of air defense systems and is committed to further expanding its technological leadership in this area. The development contract also means an increase in capabilities for Rheinmetall's subsidiaries in Hungary.

The development project is integrated into the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which aims to significantly improve air defense in Europe in the coming years. ESSI aims to enable European NATO countries to better protect themselves against air attacks in the next few years. To achieve this quickly, ESSI member states want to jointly procure, use, and maintain systems such as radar systems, guns, cannons, and surface-to-air missiles.

The German Bundeswehr intends to rebuild the air defense capability in the army. A procurement of around twenty Skyranger 30s is being considered, in this case based on the 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle Boxer. Previously, the Kingdom of Denmark had already decided to procure around 15 mobile air defense systems of the type Skyranger 30 based on an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle.

RHEINMETALL on the Internet