Belgium orders 20 Rheinmetall Skyranger 30 air defence systems against drones

Belgium's Ministry of Defence has awarded Rheinmetall a contract worth a mid three-digit million euro sum for 20 Skyranger 30 short-range air defence systems. Under Defence Minister Theo Francken, the systems are to protect key infrastructure such as major ports, energy sites and military bases from drones and cruise missiles.

The first systems are due to enter service at the end of 2028. The squadron will be based first at Beauvechain air base and move permanently to Ursel air base in 2032. The Skyranger 30 is a palletised module that can be mounted on wheeled or tracked vehicles.

Its main weapon is a 30 mm x 173 Oerlikon KCE automatic cannon firing up to 1,200 rounds a minute, built to fire AHEAD ammunition that releases tungsten sub-projectiles in front of the target. It uses an Oerlikon AMMR 3D AESA radar with 360-degree coverage and a FIRST infrared search and track sensor, and can also carry short-range missiles such as Mistral 3 or Stinger. The systems will join Belgium's Blue Dome air defence network alongside NASAMS.