Bundeswehr plans large order of Skyranger air defence systems

Drone Dawn Bundeswehr Fills Gap with Rheinmetall's Skyranger

2025-10-14 Source: dpa | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Sweeping fire! According to a media report, the German Armed Forces is planning a large order of the Skyranger air defence system from Rheinmetall to strengthen its drone defence capabilities.

These are just the perforated remains of training targets. But Rheinmetall's Skyranger drone defence system does the same thing to unwanted flying robots. Now the German Armed Forces are planning to equip themselves with it on a massive scale...(Image: Rheinmetall) — These are just the perforated remains of training targets. But Rheinmetall's Skyranger drone defence system does the same thing to unwanted flying robots. Now the German Armed Forces are planning to equip themselves with it on a massive scale...
(Image: Rheinmetall)

The Council of the European Union has approved the German government's budget plans, including the planned billions in debt. Furthermore, the finance ministers of other EU countries agreed at a meeting in Luxembourg that Germany may use a special provision for defence expenditures. If greater debt is incurred due to investments in armament than normally permitted, Berlin will not have to fear penalty proceedings. To strengthen drone defence, the Bundeswehr is planning a large order of the Skyranger air defence system, according to another media report. As reported by Handelsblatt, citing insiders from the Federal Ministry of defence and individuals familiar with the proceedings from the industrial sector, over 600 air defence systems are expected to be ordered this year. The contract value, including associated vehicles, is estimated at over nine billion euros. Skyranger is a mobile air defence system, which allows the turret with a cannon to be mounted on various vehicles—for example, on a Boxer wheeled armored vehicle, as planned by the Bundeswehr. However, deployment on a tracked vehicle, such as the aging Leopard 1, is also possible. The system can fire so-called fragmentation ammunition at a high rate, enabling it to reliably counter swarm attacks from drones. Each individual system can cover an area of four by four kilometers to keep the zone drone-free.

Defence Ministry hints at possible large order

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence in Berlin did not confirm exact numbers regarding the Skyranger purchase but stated that negotiations are underway to upgrade. A prototype of the Skyranger system is already undergoing testing, which will continue until the end of the year. It was also revealed that 19 systems have already been ordered, and additional orders will follow if the testing proves successful, as previously announced. A Rheinmetall spokesperson, when asked, only stated generally that due to high interest from multiple countries, the company is preparing for a significant increase in production. As a reference figure, at least 200 units of the drone defence system per year are currently planned. As part of the Bundeswehr's previously known order of a total of 19 units, two additional vehicles for testing are to be delivered in 2026. Series deliveries will begin in 2027 and are expected to be completed by mid-2028.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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