German defense group Rheinmetall AG announced it will deliver a new batch of Skyranger 35 air-defense systems based on the Leopard 1 tank to Kyiv to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses. The contract is valued in the hundreds of millions of euros, the company said in a statement released.
The deal will be financed by an EU member state under the EU’s Windfall Profit Mechanism initiative. Production and integration will be carried out by Rheinmetall Italia SpA at its main facility in Rome.
The Skyranger 35 combines the mobility and armor of a proven tracked chassis with the firepower of a gun-based air-defense system, making it suitable for escorting convoys and protecting key sites, the statement said.
The Skyranger 35 is equipped with a KDG 35/1000 revolver cannon chambered for 35 mm x 228, with a rate of fire up to 1,000 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 4,000 meters. The system is highly compatible with the Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk 3.
Its medium-caliber programmable airburst ammunition is designed to counter low-flying targets. The platform could also be fitted with modern guided missiles in the future, expanding its engagement envelope, the document says.
“We are grateful for the trust Ukraine places in us,” said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. “We are also grateful to the EU member state for its support, which confirms our commitment to continue helping Ukraine,” he added.
