Germany has announced the delivery of Skyranger 35 short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems to Ukraine, mounted on surplus Leopard 1 tank chassis. This move aims to bolster Ukraine’s mobile air defense capability against drones and low-flying threats as Russian aerial attacks intensify.
Skyranger 35: A Modern SHORAD System for a Drone-Dominated Battlefield
The Skyranger 35 is a turreted air defense system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG. It features a high-rate-of-fire Oerlikon Revolver Gun MK3—a gas-operated, single-barrel autocannon chambered in NATO-standard 35×228 mm. The gun can fire programmable AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition designed to create lethal sub-projectile clouds optimized for intercepting small aerial targets such as UAVs and loitering munitions.
The system integrates a multi-sensor suite including an X-band AESA search radar (Rheinmetall’s TMX), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, and laser rangefinders for all-weather day/night target acquisition and tracking. The turret is also designed with growth potential for integrating short-range missiles or additional effectors in the future.
Skyranger’s key attributes include:
- Effective engagement range up to ~4 km against UAVs
- 360° coverage with automatic target tracking
- C-UAS optimized fire control using programmable AHEAD rounds
- Optional integration of surface-to-air missiles or electronic warfare modules
Mounted on Leopard 1 Chassis: Mobility Meets Survivability
The decision to mount the Skyranger turret on decommissioned Leopard 1A5 main battle tank hulls reflects both logistical pragmatism and tactical necessity. Germany has hundreds of surplus Leopard 1s in storage—many of which are being refurbished by Rheinmetall and FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft for transfer to Ukraine under earlier aid packages.
This pairing provides several advantages:
- Mobility: The tracked chassis allows off-road maneuverability alongside mechanized units.
- Sustainability: Commonality with other Ukrainian-operated Leopard platforms simplifies maintenance and logistics.
- Protection: While not equivalent to modern MBTs, the armored hull offers better survivability than wheeled SHORAD platforms like the Boxer or M113 variants.
This configuration echoes the Cold War-era Gepard SPAAG concept—also based on a tank chassis—but with modern sensors and munitions tailored for today’s drone-heavy threat environment.
A Replacement for Aging Gepards?
The German-donated Flakpanzer Gepard systems have proven highly effective in Ukrainian service since their delivery began in mid-2022. However, their age (developed in the late 1970s), limited spare parts availability (notably radar components), and finite ammunition stocks have raised sustainability concerns.
The Skyranger-on-Leopard-1 configuration may serve as a partial successor or supplement to the Gepards. Unlike the twin-cannon Gepard (with two KDA autocannons), Skyranger uses a single MK3 gun but compensates through its advanced fire control system and precision-guided AHEAD rounds. Moreover, it is designed from inception with modularity in mind—enabling upgrades such as missile pods or directed energy weapons depending on future needs.
Timeline and Delivery Details Remain Unclear
As of October 2025 reporting, neither Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence nor Rheinmetall has publicly confirmed exact quantities or delivery timelines for these new systems. However, statements from Bundestag defense committee members suggest that initial units could be delivered in early-to-mid-2026 following integration trials at Rheinmetall facilities in Unterlüß or Kassel.
This program likely falls under Germany’s “Ringtausch” model or direct bilateral military aid framework—part of Berlin’s ongoing €10 billion commitment to support Ukraine through military modernization over multiple years. Funding may also be drawn from the Bundeswehr’s special fund (“Sondervermögen”) allocated post-February 2022 invasion.
Tactical Impact: A Critical Tool Against Drones and Cruise Missiles
The deployment of mobile SHORAD assets like Skyranger is increasingly vital amid Russia’s evolving aerial threat profile—including mass drone swarms (e.g., Shahed-136), low-flying cruise missiles (Kh-101/Kh-555), and glide bombs dropped from Su-34s outside Ukrainian MANPADS range.
While long-range SAM systems like IRIS-T SLM or Patriot provide area protection against high-altitude threats, they are cost-prohibitive for countering cheap drones en masse. Systems like Skyranger fill this gap by offering cost-effective point defense around critical infrastructure or frontline brigades—especially when integrated into layered IADS networks via NATO-compatible C4I links such as Link-16 or national equivalents like Delta/Centaur used by Ukrainian forces.
If successfully fielded at scale, this platform could become a cornerstone of Ukraine’s future mobile air defense doctrine—combining legacy Western armor platforms with cutting-edge sensor-fusion SHORAD turrets purpose-built for the drone era.
Conclusion: Industrial Innovation Meets Battlefield Urgency
The adaptation of the Skyranger turret onto legacy Leopard 1 hulls exemplifies how Western defense industries are reconfiguring Cold War-era assets into relevant tools for modern conflict environments dominated by asymmetric aerial threats. For Ukraine—which faces daily attacks from drones and precision-guided munitions—the arrival of these systems could significantly enhance survivability across both civilian infrastructure zones and maneuver forces at the front line.
If production bottlenecks can be overcome—and if integration trials validate performance—the German-Ukrainian cooperation on this platform may set precedent for similar hybrid SHORAD solutions across NATO partners seeking affordable counter-drone capability without waiting years for entirely new vehicle programs.
