The Dutch Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with German defense firm Rheinmetall to acquire the Skyranger 30 system. This contract implements a January 2025 policy decision to procure 22 Skyranger 30s mounted on new tracked combat support vehicles and close a gap in the Netherlands’ very-short-range air defense. They will replace the Fennek SWPs (Stinger Weapon Platform) currently fielded by the Dutch Army.
The contract covers 22 Skyranger 30 systems, to be mounted on new tracked Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSV Gen5) or deployed in fixed ground configurations. Deliveries are scheduled to start in late 2028 and will conclude by the end of 2029. The order is valued at several hundred million euros. It also includes support components like training simulators.
Netherlands Signs Major Deal for Rheinmetall Skyranger 30 to Counter Drone Threats. (Dutch Ministry of Defense)
The Skyranger 30 turret features a fully stabilized 30×173mm rapid-fire cannon. The system can engage unmanned aerial vehicles weighing up to roughly 600 kilograms at ranges of about five kilometers according to Rheinmetall. This design makes the Skyranger 30 ideal for shooting down everything from small reconnaissance drones to larger loitering munitions in the very-short-range domain. The system also has a secondary armament, a short-range missile such as Stinger, Mistral or Rheinmetall’s DefendAir. Given the Netherlands currently fields Stinger MANPADS and the Fennek SWP the Skyranger 30s are likely Stinger-equipped.
These short-range cannons will plug a gap in the Netherlands’ layered air defenses. The new mobile Skyranger units will complement existing medium- and long-range systems (such as the planned NOMAD mobile air defense systems and the longer-range NASAMS and Patriot batteries) by giving Dutch forces a rapid-response weapon against swarms of UAVs. The Ministry of Defence specifically highlights the Skyranger’s ability to protect combat units in the field and critical sites at home, from military bases to major infrastructure such as the Port of Rotterdam.
Much of the work will be performed in the Netherlands. Rheinmetall Switzerland will build the first three prototypes, but final assembly and system integration are planned at Rheinmetall’s facility in Ede. The Dutch programme also includes integration into the existing air defence architecture, along with classroom simulators and full logistics support. Overall, the Skyranger 30 acquisition represents a major boost to the Netherlands’ close-in air defences in an era of increased drone threats, with the first systems arriving before the end of 2028.