What Is the Skyranger 30? Rheinmetall’s Counter-Drone SHORAD System on Boxer
The Skyranger 30 is Rheinmetall’s next-generation short-range air defence (SHORAD) system, integrated as a mission module on the Boxer MRAV. Armed with a 30mm MK 30/ABM cannon firing AHEAD airburst rounds, it provides mechanised formations with a mobile air-defence umbrella against drones, helicopters and low-flying aircraft. Conceived as the successor to the Gepard SPAAG, Skyranger addresses the modern battlefield’s acute drone threat in a fully networked, wheeled package.
System Identity
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall Air Defence AG |
| Platform | Boxer MRAV mission module |
| Main Armament | 30mm Oerlikon MK 30/ABM (dual-feed) |
| Ammunition | AHEAD (airburst) + APDS |
| Rate of Fire | 1,200 rounds/minute |
| Effective Range | 3,000 m (drone) / 4,000 m (aircraft) |
| Network | NATO Link 16 / network-centric command |
| Crew | 2 |
Why AHEAD Matters
Each AHEAD round ejects 152 tungsten sub-projectiles in a programmed burst pattern ahead of the target. Against drones and light air targets, this creates a far wider kill zone than standard APDS — the same principle that made Gepard so effective against Shahed-136 in Ukraine.
Gepard vs Skyranger 30
| Feature | Gepard | Skyranger 30 |
| Platform | Leopard 1 tracked | Boxer 8×8 wheeled |
| Gun | 2× 35mm | 1× 30mm |
| Networking | Limited | Link 16, fully integrated |
| Drone Role | Ad hoc | Primary mission |
| Status | Retired | Active development |
Sources
- Rheinmetall Air Defence AG — Skyranger 30 Product Page
- Jane’s Air Defence Systems
- Army Recognition — Skyranger 30 Technical Analysis, 2023
