Netherlands orders Skyranger anti-drone cannons for under €1 billion

PARIS — The Netherlands has ordered Skyranger anti-drone cannons from Germany’s Rheinmetall for lower than €1 billion (US$1.2 billion), beneath the finances flagged to parliament in January.

The Dutch will purchase cellular variations of the Skyranger air-defense system in addition to programs for stationary use, the Ministry of Defence mentioned late Thursday. The primary Skyrangers can be handed over late 2028, with deliveries accomplished by end-2029, Rheinmetall mentioned in a separate assertion Friday.

As drones have grow to be ubiquitous on the entrance line in Ukraine, European nations are determining the way to shield maneuvering troops towards that menace. The Netherlands final month mentioned it could match a remote-controlled weapon system on wheeled armor as a quick-fix first functionality forward of the supply of Skyrangers.

The Skyranger buy “offers the Netherlands extra choices to defend itself towards drones within the highest spectrum of violence,” the MoD mentioned.

The Skyranger programs will complement present short- and medium-range air protection, and can shield fight items in addition to crucial objects and areas such because the port of Rotterdam and navy websites, the ministry mentioned. The port of Rotterdam is Europe’s greatest, and a key hub for transferring navy provides, together with to Ukraine.

Rheinmetall mentioned it’s going to provide the Netherlands with a “two-digit quantity” of Skyranger programs, with a contract worth within the “excessive triple-digit” million euro vary. The corporate is unable to offer actual numbers for contractual causes, Rheinmetall instructed Protection Information, whereas the Dutch MoD didn’t instantly reply to emailed questions.

The protection agency mentioned the Netherlands will obtain “a very new system” that can be utilized both in a cellular configuration on automobiles or as a stationary setup. Till now, Rheinmetall had been advertising Skyranger as a cellular system, displaying the cannon mounted on armor at protection reveals similar to Eurosatory in Paris and DSEI in London.

The Skyranger 30 is supplied with a 30mm revolver cannon that fires airburst munition, designed to take out drones weighing as much as 600 kilograms at a distance of as much as 5 kilometers.

Along with the weapon platform consisting of a typical Skyranger 30 air-defense turret and decrease mount to be used on an armored service, the Dutch additionally ordered tactical-level management nodes and hook-lift transport platforms for stationary deployment, Rheinmetall mentioned.

“The configuration for the Dutch armed forces, which permits each extremely cellular operations and stationary use with no service car, is exclusive up to now,” mentioned Oliver Dürr, managing director of Rheinmetall Air Defence. “One other NATO nation has already expressed curiosity on this configuration.”

The Netherlands was planning to purchase 22 Skyranger cellular air-defense cannons, in a mission with a finances of €1.3 billion, State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman instructed parliament in January.

“The improve of the Dutch cellular air protection capabilities additionally contains providers offered by different suppliers,” Rheinmetall instructed Protection Information in response to a query concerning the distinction in worth. “As well as, contracts may be prolonged.”

The Netherlands signed a contract with Rheinmetall Switzerland, which can construct the primary three prototypes, whereas Rheinmetall’s enterprise in Ede within the Netherlands will play a “main function” in manufacturing and meeting of the remaining programs, the MoD mentioned.

Detailed planning remains to be ongoing, with the Ede website set to combine the air-defense programs onto the car construction, whereas upkeep and spare-parts provide may be dealt with from the Dutch location, in accordance with Rheinmetall.

Hensoldt signed a long-term framework settlement to offer Rheinmetall with its Spexer 2000 radar for ground-based air protection, specifically for drone protection and the Skyranger 30 system, the German defense-electronics maker mentioned in a separate assertion Friday. The settlement will stay legitimate till the 2030s, and has a possible quantity within the “excessive three-digit vary,” Hensoldt mentioned.