Anti-Aircraft Systems

Ukraine: German Skyranger AA Already in Theatre

Building on the back of the success of the Gepard

I picked up this news about a German AA system now in Ukraine. It’s a name I hadn’t heard before. The Skyranger is an anti-aircraft system designed for short range, low altitude defence, when targets are closer in than those of the Gepard.

There are two models: the Skyranger 30 and the Skyranger 35. I haven’t been able to determine which has been shipped to Ukraine although the story I saw on United24Media (Telegram) showed a picture of the Skyranger 35.

The main differences between the two models is that the ‘30’ has a shorter effective range than the Skyranger 35 at 3 km (against 4–5km), it has a higher rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute. It is able to elevate 85° to combat terminal diving targets.

Skyranger 30

This is essentially a turret and gun combination which can be mounted in a static emplacement or on a variety of mobile platforms. Its weight is about 2.5 tons including armour.

Main Gun

The Skyranger 30 is equipped with a single Oerlikon KCA 30mm autocannon, which is capable of firing both HE-T and APFSDS-T (sabot) rounds. The gun has an elevation range of between -3⁰ to +55⁰, allowing it to engage targets at all elevations up to 5 km away. Although sold as an air defence system, it can be used against ground targets with gun depression down to -3⁰. The gun can engage targets up to 6,000 m in altitude

Ammunition

This is a kinetic weapon, creating a tungsten screen ahead of a target.

It fires a 30 mm airburst round based on the 35 mm AHEAD ammunition carrying 160 tungsten cylinders, each weighing 1.25 grams for a total payload of 200 grams, which is time-programmed upon leaving the muzzle to open up in front of a target to form a lethal cone.

The ammunition cannot be influenced or jammed by electronic countermeasures when fired. I’ll come back to this point a bit later.

The success of the self-propelled Flakpanzer Gepard antiaircraft system in Ukraine underscores the effectiveness of gun-based air defence against aerial targets, especially cruise missiles and drones.

Radar and sensors

To detect targets, the Skyranger 30 uses the S-band AESA Multi-Mission Radar (AMMR).

Five flat antennas integrated around the turret provide full 360° active radar coverage. The AMMR has a detection range of over 20 km for a 1 m² RCS aircraft, 12 km against hovering helicopters, 10 km against missiles, and 5 km against RAM targets and micro-UAVs.

For passive detection, the vehicle is installed with Rheinmetall’s FIRST (Fast InfraRed Search and Track), which is optimized to detect pop-up targets such as helicopters. (Wikipedia)

AA Missiles

Because of its lighter weight than the ‘35’, the turret on the ‘30’ can incorporate two SAM missiles (8 km range), such FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral or SkyKnight, whether laser-beam riding or IR homing.

Laser weapon addition

In late 2021, Rheinmetall unveiled the Skyranger 30 high-energy laser (HEL), to increase the system’s ability to neutralize small targets at greater range and lower cost. The initial laser power level is 20 kw, with an immediate goal to increase it to 50 kw and an ideal goal of 100 kw.

Rate of Fire

The Skyranger 30 can be set to fire at different rates depending on the anticipated target engagement. It features three firing modes: single shots, bursts, and continuous fire. This allows for more precise control and better accuracy when engaging multiple targets simultaneously. Additionally, the system is capable of rapid-fire engagements with its maximum rate of fire reaching up to 1200 rounds per minute.

Additional features

The turret carries smoke grenade launchers and a coaxial machine gun for self-defence.

Reliability

The Skyranger 30 has a proven track record in reliability and performance in both combat situations as well as non-combat training scenarios. Its modular construction helps ensure that components can be quickly replaced or upgraded without major disruption to operations. Additionally, the system’s advanced digital fire control system provides reliable operation even in extreme environmental conditions.

Cost

The cost of the Skyranger 30 is dependent on the configuration and accessories chosen by the customer. Generally speaking, however, the system is moderately priced and competitively priced in comparison to other systems available in its class, such as the Gepard. Additionally, due to its modular nature, additional or upgraded components can be added as needed at relatively low cost.

Skyranger 35

This is an altogether heavier turret weapon than the ‘30’, at 4.25 tons against 2.5 tons.

The key differences between the ‘30’ and the ‘35’ are:

Launch platform

The ’35 is designed for mobile platforms and does not appear to offer a static emplacement option.

Gun

This is a 35 mm revolver cannon, based on the 35/1000 revolver gun (as compared with a rotary gun). It can be elevated up to 85° with 360° rotation.

The ammunition is AHEAD as with the ‘30’, but obviously in a 35mm flavour.

In June 2021, Rheinmetall tested its 35mm Revolver Gun against drone swarms with the use of AHEAD ammunition. Firing PMD 428 rounds, an eight-drone swarm was neutralized with an 18-round burst, most of them being destroyed with the first 6 rounds. (Wikipedia)

Range and fire-rate

The cannon has three modes: 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 compared with the Gepard at 5,500 m.

Radar and target tracking

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.

Skynex

The Telegram story also mentioned Skynex, which is a holistic AA defence system, incorporating a choice of gun and radar technologies.

The Skynex air defence system is based on a concept that keeps airspace surveillance separate from the effectors, only requiring a tracking unit to link a C2 (command and control) network with different weapons. Each Skynex system comprises four Revolver Gun Mk3 cannons, a CN-1 control node, and an X-TAR3D radar all mounted on HX trucks. (Wikipedia)

The Oerlikon Skymaster® Battle Management System is the control node and centerpiece of the system. Various sensors and effectors can be linked in a modular way in order to fit mission requirements.

The Skynex unit can use several medium-range radars, such as the Oerlikon X-TAR3D Tactical Acquisition Radar, to provide the air picture, which is consolidated in the control node. The weapon systems of the Skynex can include Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3, the Oerlikon Twin Gun GDF009 TREO, surface-to-air missiles, means for active and passive electronic warfare and future high-energy lasers can be integrated.

The Skynex that will be delivered to Ukraine is based on a 6x6 man truck with a crew cabin at the front and an Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 weapon station mounted a the rear of the truck chassis. The turret is armed with one 35mm revolver cannon. — armyrecognition.com

Skyshield

The Skyranger and Skynex weapons systems are just two ‘components’ of the Skyshield air defence family.

Finally

I mentioned the time-programmed fuse earlier in this story. I was puzzled by a report in Janes:

Moreover, the advanced hit efficiency and destruction (AHEAD) 35 mm programmable rounds fired by Skynex’s Revolver Gun Mk 3 are “significantly less expensive than comparable guided missile-based systems” and cannot be interfered with or jammed by electronic countermeasures when fired, according to Rheinmetall. — Janes.com

Programmable 35 mm rounds?

So I checked the Rheinmetall site.

The 35 mm Ahead system, consists of measurement and programming units, control electronics and programmable Ahead ammunition. It can be fitted to any suitable automatic cannon and then successfully engage small, fast aerial targets with a high kill probability. Each Ahead round contains 152 tungsten sub-projectiles which are ejected immediately in front of the oncoming target. The measurement unit determines the velocity of each Ahead round prior to muzzle exit. Based on this data, the control electronics calculates the sub-projectile ejection time, which is transmitted via the programming unit to the time fuse in the projectile.

I’d been wondering what that gizmo was on the Gepard muzzle and now I think I know. Those rings look like electro-magnets to me — one for speed measurement and one for fuse programming. Just a guess.

So, the AHEAD ammunition is programmable. Could it be affected by some sort of ECM? Unprogrammed? The manufacturers say ‘no’.

Never say never.

I have no affiliation with any companies or products in this story.

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