Skyranger 35

Last updated
Skyranger 35
Boxer fitted with the Oerlikon Skyranger air defence system.jpg
Rheinmetall displayed a Boxer fitted with the Oerlikon Skyranger 35 air defence system at Eurosatory 2018
Type SPAAG / VSHORAD
Place of originSwitzerland / Germany
Production history
Designed2004 [1]
ManufacturerRheinmetall Air Defence
Specifications
Massturret only: 4.5 t

Shell 35×228mm
Elevation -5° / +85°
Traverse 360°
Effective firing range4000 m

The Skyranger 35 is a short range air defence turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly Oerlikon).

Contents

Design

A mobile version of the Skyshield air defense system, it is based on a turret equipped with a 35 mm revolver cannon, based on the 35/1000 revolver gun. It can be elevated up to 85° with 360° rotation. The unmanned turret weighs 4.25 tonnes loaded and is controlled by two operators inside the vehicle. The gun is optimized to fire AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition, an airburst round that releases a cloud of sub-projectiles just ahead of a target, enabling it to engage conventional as well as low, slow and small (LSS) air threats including UAVs and perform C-RAM duties. [2] [3]

The cannon can fire single-shots, rapid single shots at 200 rounds per minute or at a maximum rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. It has an effective range of 4,000 m. Skyranger 35 vehicles have an integrated sensor suite, consisting of an X-band or Ku-band tracking radar with a range out to 30 km and an EO/IR camera with a laser rangefinder and automatic target tracking. The turret carries 252 rounds. It can be mounted on various wheeled and tracked vehicles. Prototypes were integrated on the Piranha IIIH, Piranha IV and Boxer 8×8 armored personnel carriers. [4] [5]

In 2021, the Skyranger 30 was unveiled, which is a lighter version equipped with a 30 mm cannon and short-range surface-to-air missiles. [1]

In September of 2023, a new version of the Skyranger 35 system was introduced with redesigned turret and Oerlikon AMMR search radar. [6] This S-band radar has a detection range of 5 km for small drones and 20 km for fighter-sized aircraft. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon</span> Mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability

An anti-aircraft vehicle, also known as a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) or self-propelled air defense system (SPAD), is a mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rheinmetall Air Defence</span> German military arms company

Rheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products. Oerlikon Contraves was a Swiss anti-aircraft artillery manufacturer famous for its adaptation of the 1916 20 mm Becker as the Oerlikon 20 mm autocannon design, which was used in the Second World War and still in use today. Copies and derivatives of these designs were made by German, French, British and Japanese weapon manufacturers. Oerlikon Contraves was purchased by Rheinmetall in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flakpanzer Gepard</span> Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

The Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard is an all-weather-capable German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) based on the hull of the Leopard 1. It was developed in the 1960s, fielded in the 1970s, and has been upgraded several times with the latest electronics. It has been a cornerstone of the air defence of the German Army (Bundeswehr) and a number of other NATO countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PZA Loara</span> Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

The PZA Loara is a Polish armored radar-directed self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system. The original PZA Loara prototype was based on the chassis of the T-72M tank. The production version known as PZA Loara-A is based on the chassis of the PT-91 MBT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oerlikon GDF</span> Autocannon

The Oerlikon GDF or Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves. The system was originally designated 2 ZLA/353 ML but this was later changed to GDF-001. It was developed in the late 1950s and is used by around 30 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyshield</span> Short range air defense system

Skyshield air-defence system is a modular, light weight, short range air defense (SHORAD) system developed by the Swiss corporation Oerlikon Contraves. The successor to the Skyguard defense system, Skyshield is intended to rapidly acquire and destroy threatening aircraft and missiles, as well as to fulfill a C-RAM role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Zenith</span> Automatic gun used by the Turkish Navy

Sea Zenith is a four-barrelled 25 mm CIWS used by the Turkish Navy on their MEKO 200 frigates, like the Barbaros and Yavuz classes. It was developed in the 1980s by Oerlikon Contraves around their Oerlikon KBB gun and manufactured in Switzerland. This automatic gun uses a 25x184mm cartridge at a rate of 800 rounds a minute. Using four independent guns instead of one multi-barrelled rotary cannon improves reliability. The system is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by the Seaguard radar developed by Contraves. The turret is tilted back to allow a higher elevation to intercept diving missiles. The system's primary purpose is defence against anti-ship missiles, and other precision guided weapons. However it can also be employed against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, ships and other small craft, coastal targets, and floating mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C-RAM</span> Military air defense system

Counter rocket, artillery, and mortar, abbreviated C-RAM or counter-RAM, is a set of systems used to detect and/or destroy incoming rockets, artillery, and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets, or simply provide early warning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short range air defense</span> Anti-air weapons against low-flying targets

Short range air defense (SHORAD) is a group of anti-aircraft weapons and tactics that have to do with defense against low-altitude air threats, primarily helicopters and low-flying aircraft such as the A-10 or Sukhoi Su-25. SHORAD and its complements, HIMAD and THAAD divide air defense of the battlespace into domes of responsibility based on altitude and defensive weapon ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marksman anti-aircraft system</span> Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon

Marksman is a British short range air defense system developed by Marconi, consisting of a turret, a Marconi Series 400 radar and two Swiss Oerlikon 35 mm anti-aircraft autocannons. It is similar to the German Gepard system in terms of engine performance, ammunition carried and effective range of the ammunition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun</span> Type of close-in weapon system

The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun or Rheinmetall GDM-008 is a close-in weapon system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG for mounting on ships. It is based on the 35/1000 revolver gun land-based air defense system and uses Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun</span> Type of naval close-in weapon system

The Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun (35DPG) is an inner layer of defence (ILD) weapon system for warships built in South Africa by Denel Land Systems. It is currently in service on the Valour-class frigates of the South African Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oerlikon KCA</span> Automatic cannon

The Oerlikon KCA is a Swiss 30 mm (1.181 in) gas-operated single-barrel revolver cannon developed for aircraft use. Its most noticeable use was on the JA 37 Viggen fighter mounted in a conformal pod as the akan m/75. The KCA fires a 30 mm × 173 mm shell that is 50% heavier than the NATO standard ammunition used on ADEN and DEFA cannon. It can fire up to 1350 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 1030 m/s, with an effective range of 2,500 m (8,200 ft)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PGZ-09</span> Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

The Type 09 is a Chinese self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle manufactured by Norinco. It is armed with two 35 millimeter cannons and optionally two to four fire-and-forget infrared homing missiles. It started to gradually replace the predecessor Type 95 in 2009. Some military analysts designated the vehicle as Type 07, but the official designation was confirmed as Type 09 on the Theme Exhibition of the 90th Anniversary of Chinese People's Liberation Army in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KORKUT</span> Turkish anti-aircraft gun

The KORKUT is a Turkish all-weather-capable 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) developed by Aselsan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aselsan GOKDENIZ</span> Turkish anti-aircraft gun

The GOKDENIZ complex along with Aselsan ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition is an all-weather-capable Turkish 35 mm dual barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) developed by Aselsan. It is a CIWS variant of KORKUT Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.

The SkyKnight is an all-weather multi-target short-range air defence missile. It was developed by Halcon Systems and is the United Arab Emirates' first designed counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missile. SkyKnight is planned to be integrated into Rheinmetall Skynex air defence system. Skynex is a fully networked system of sensors and effectors linked via a tactical communications network to provide a mostly automated layered defence against various aerial threats. Up to four 6.1 m (20 ft)-long SkyKnight missile launcher units (MLU) with 60 rounds each can be controlled in a Skynex battery. An MLU can launch up to five missiles in one second and each can simultaneously fire 20 at one time to neutralize 80 incoming targets. The missiles are capable of intercepting manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters at 10 km (6.2 mi), precision guided munitions (PGMs) and cruise missiles at 6 km (3.7 mi), and RAM projectiles at 4 km (2.5 mi). The Skynex system combines the SkyKnight with up to four Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 35 mm revolver cannons to handle anything that penetrates through the missile defenses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyranger 30</span> VSHORAD

The Skyranger 30 is a short range air defense turret system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AHEAD ammunition</span> Type of airburst ammunition

Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition is a type of airburst round ammunition that releases a cloud of sub-projectiles just ahead of a target, enabling it to engage conventional as well as low, slow and small (LSS) air threats including unmanned aerial vehicles and perform counter rocket, artillery, and mortar duties. The 35 mm variety produced by Oerlikon Contraves splits each projectile into 152 tungsten submunitions "that form a cone-shaped pattern to destroy a target's control surfaces and other vital components". This type of ammunition is listed as an official acronym at the British Ministry of Defence.

References

  1. 1 2 "Rheinmetall unveils Skyranger 30 air-defence system". Janes Information Services . 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021.
  2. Skyranger 35 mm anti-aircraft gun system. Military-Today.com.
  3. OERLIKON SKYRANGER® GUN MOBILE 35MM AIR DEFENCE GUN. Rheinmetall Air Defence .
  4. Skyranger 35 mm anti-aircraft gun system. Military-Today.com.
  5. OERLIKON SKYRANGER® GUN MOBILE 35MM AIR DEFENCE GUN. Rheinmetall Air Defence .
  6. "Threat-adequate and highly mobile: Rheinmetall's Oerlikon Skyranger 35 on show at DSEI 2023" (PDF). www.rheinmetall.com.
  7. "MSU S: increased short range air defence situational awareness from Rheinmetall".