Oerlikon Skyranger 30: Next-Generation Light Multi-Role Air Defence System
The modern battlefield is evolving rapidly, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, and highly agile air threats becoming increasingly common. To counter these challenges, Rheinmetall has introduced the Oerlikon Skyranger® 30 Light Multi-Role Air Defence System, a highly mobile and autonomous solution designed to deliver superior firepower, advanced sensor integration, and unmatched versatility. This system represents a new era in short-range air defence (SHORAD), combining guns, missiles, and cutting-edge radar technology into a single platform.
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| Photo: Rheinmetall |
Advanced Air Defence Technology for Modern Battlefields
The Oerlikon Skyranger 30 is specifically engineered to engage small, fast, and unpredictable aerial targets. Its design focuses on countering UAVs, drones, and swarming threats that perform loiter, pop-up, or dive attacks. By integrating both active and passive sensors, the system ensures continuous monitoring of the surrounding airspace. The 3D AESA radar provides precise detection and tracking, while the FIRST infrared scanner offers passive surveillance, making the Skyranger 30 effective even in environments where radar emissions must be minimized.
Superior Firepower with Oerlikon Revolver Cannon
At the heart of the Skyranger 30 lies the Oerlikon Revolver Cannon® KCE-ABM, chambered in 30mm x 173 calibre. This cannon delivers a nominal rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute, with a rapid single-shot mode at 200 rounds per minute for precision engagements. With a muzzle velocity of 1,075 meters per second, the weapon ensures high accuracy and lethality against even the smallest aerial targets.
The integration of Air Burst Munition (ABM) technology significantly enhances effectiveness. By detonating at a programmed point in space, ABM rounds create a lethal cloud of fragments, increasing hit probability against drones and other agile threats. With 252 rounds of 30mm ammunition ready to fire, the Skyranger 30 provides sustained firepower in combat scenarios.
Missile Integration for Extended Range Engagements
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| Photo: Rheinmetall |
While the cannon provides unmatched close-range firepower, the Skyranger 30 can also be equipped with SHORAD missiles to extend its engagement envelope. With two missiles ready to fire, the system can neutralize threats at ranges up to 6,000 meters. This dual capability—gun and missile—ensures flexibility against diverse threats, from low-flying drones to fast-moving aircraft.
Multi-Sensor Suite for Target Detection and Tracking
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| Photo: Rheinmetall |
The Skyranger 30 employs a comprehensive sensor package to ensure reliable detection, tracking, and identification. Its 3D AESA radar offers instrumented ranges up to 20 kilometers with full 360° coverage. Complementing this is the FIRST fast infrared scanner, which provides passive detection with rapid response times.
The electro-optical sensor unit includes a high-definition TV camera, cooled infrared camera, and laser range finder, enabling precise target tracking and visual identification. Optional Ku-band or X-band tracking radars further enhance accuracy, ensuring the system can operate effectively in complex threat environments.
Fire Control and Automation
The Skyranger 30 is equipped with the GCC30 fire control module, which automates target detection, acquisition, and tracking. This high level of automation reduces operator workload and ensures rapid response to emerging threats. The system is capable of “shoot on the move” operations against ground targets, providing flexibility in dynamic combat situations.
Two operator consoles—one for the commander and one for the gunner—are integrated into the vehicle, allowing efficient control and coordination. The Oerlikon Skymaster® C2 system ensures seamless integration with higher-level command and control networks, enabling cooperative engagement with other air defence assets.
Mobility and Protection for Modern Forces
One of the defining features of the Skyranger 30 is its lightweight, remote-controlled turret. With no turret basket, the system can be easily mounted on existing in-service vehicles, enhancing mobility and adaptability. The turret weighs between 1,500 and 2,300 kilograms depending on ammunition load, making it suitable for a wide range of platforms.
Ballistic protection is provided up to STANAG 4569 Level 4, ensuring survivability against battlefield threats. Additionally, the system includes Rosy smoke grenade launchers for rapid concealment, enhancing survivability in contested environments.
Technical Specifications of the Oerlikon Skyranger 30
Cannon
Gun turret
Search sensors
Fire control
The Oerlikon Skyranger 30 Feature
The Oerlikon Skyranger 30 offers several operational advantages that make it a critical asset for modern armed forces:
- High Hit Probability: ABM technology ensures effectiveness against small UAVs and swarming drones.
- Extended Range: Integration of SHORAD missiles provides layered defence capability.
- Rapid Deployment: Lightweight turret design allows integration on multiple vehicle platforms.
- Automation: Advanced fire control reduces operator workload and increases combat efficiency.
- Survivability: Ballistic protection and smoke grenade launchers enhance battlefield resilience.
A Game-Changer in Short-Range Air Defence
The Oerlikon Skyranger® 30 Light Multi-Role Air Defence System represents a significant leap forward in SHORAD technology. By combining a high-rate-of-fire cannon, programmable air burst ammunition, missile integration, and advanced sensor systems, it delivers unmatched versatility and effectiveness against modern aerial threats.
As UAVs and loitering munitions continue to reshape the battlefield, systems like the Skyranger 30 will play a pivotal role in ensuring force protection and air superiority. Its mobility, automation, and adaptability make it a vital solution for armed forces seeking to counter the evolving spectrum of aerial threats in the 21st century.
