Germans will supply Ukraine with Skyranger 30— a cannon with missiles that blocks the sky from drones

Skyranger 30 is not just an air defense system, but a system for drones

The German concern Rheinmetall has started supplying Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems to Ukraine. This is not just an upgrade of the old air defense system — it is a specialized system for dealing with drones, which have become the main threat on the battlefield. Unlike heavy missile systems, Skyranger deftly handles small, cheap and maneuverable drones that slip past radars.

Now the Ukrainian Armed Forces have weapons that are tailored specifically for today's war.

How does a bunch of guns and missiles work?

The Skyranger 30 is a hybrid. A 30-mm automatic cannon and missiles are mounted on one platform. The cannon fires shrapnel, which explodes in the air, covering the area around the drone. The missiles are short—range, but very accurate, with infrared guidance. They are needed for targets that the cannon can no longer reach.

The system operates autonomously: its own radar, guidance, and control. It can stand on a tracked chassis or on a truck — it is quickly transferred and deployed.

4 by 4 kilometers under protection

According to the developers, one Skyranger 30 complex is capable of "closing" a 4 by 4 kilometer area. This does not mean that he destroys every drone in the radius — we are talking about a zone where an enemy drone loses the chance of a successful attack. The radar detects the target, the system reacts quickly, and the drone either crashes or its operator loses contact and leaves.

Such a shield is especially important for protecting rear facilities — warehouses, checkpoints, repair shops, where there is no heavy air defense.

Why is this important now

Drones are flying more frequently, cheaper and smarter. Expensive missiles are not always effective against them. Skyranger is a reasonable compromise: relatively inexpensive, mobile, accurate. His appearance in the Ukrainian army is a step towards creating a multi—layered anti-drone defense, where each level hits its own targets.

Now Ukraine has a weapon that doesn't just shoot — it thinks and adapts.

Sources

1. RIA SV — Ukraine to receive latest Rheinmetall anti-drone air-defence systems by end of 2025
2. RIA Novosti & ZDF — interview with Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger on Skyranger deliveries
3. Gazeta.ru — Rheinmetall contract to supply Ukraine with Skyranger systems
4. RBC — Rheinmetall Skyranger delivery to Kyiv
5. Interfax — Rheinmetall to provide Ukraine with new mobile air-defence systems against drones
6. Tencent News — German Army to procure Skyranger 30 systems for drone threat (background on system)