- Skynex is already in Ukrainian service. Germany financed and delivered two Skynex air‑defense systems with ammunition in 2024; Berlin’s official aid list confirms it. Bundesregierung
- Combat use is public. Ukraine’s Air Force has released footage and praised Skynex’s “impeccable results” against Shahed drones; Ukrainian outlets reported seven downed in one night. The Kyiv Independent
- Skyranger is next. Rheinmetall’s CEO announced on German TV that Skyranger mobile anti‑drone systems for Ukraine will be contracted at DSEI 2025, with first deliveries by year‑end. DefenseNews and the Financial Times corroborate the timeline. ZDFheute
- Why these matter: both systems use airburst cannon fire (AHEAD) to kill cheap drones at far lower cost than missiles—exactly the cost‑exchange Ukraine needs at scale. Rheinmetall
What are Skynex and Skyranger?
Skynex is Rheinmetall’s networked short‑range air‑defense (SHORAD) architecture. It separates the command‑and‑control node (Skymaster) and sensors (e.g., X‑TAR3D radar, Multi‑Sensor Unit) from the effectors (notably the Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 35 mm). Skynex links multiple radars and guns (and even missiles or future lasers) into a single, modular fire unit optimized for drones, cruise missiles, and rockets. Rheinmetall
Skyranger is the mobile, turreted cousin—essentially the same airburst‑gun idea packaged as a self‑propelled system. It comes in 35 mm (KDG 35/1000) or 30 mm (KCE) variants; the 35 mm has an effective range up to 4 km and can be mounted on tracked or wheeled vehicles (Leopard, Lynx, Boxer, etc.). Germany’s Bundeswehr is adopting Skyranger 30 on Boxer; a demonstration model was handed over in early 2025. Rheinmetall
Why airburst? Both systems fire AHEAD programmable rounds that explode just before the target, throwing a dense tungsten cloud to shred drone airframes and seekers—far cheaper per shot than SAM interceptors. Rheinmetall
Deliveries to Ukraine: what’s confirmed
Skynex (delivered)
- Contract & funding. In Dec 2022, Rheinmetall announced a €182 m sale of two Skynex systems (plus HX trucks), with deliveries slated for early 2024. German press reported at the time that Berlin would cover the cost. Rheinmetall
- Arrival & official confirmation. The first Skynex reached Ukraine by Jan 4, 2024, publicly thanked by President Zelensky; a second followed by late April 2024. Germany’s own aid ledger lists “2 Luftverteidigungssysteme SKYNEX mit Munition.” euro-sd.com
- Training & first footage. Ukraine’s Air Command “West” showed Skynex training in Sept 2024; media published the first clips. The New Voice of Ukraine
- Combat use in 2025. On July 12, 2025, the Air Force posted new video and wrote that “Rheinmetall’s Skynex … shows impeccable results” destroying Russian strike UAVs—Ukrainian outlets tallied seven Shaheds shot down that night. The Kyiv Independent
“The German aid is helping to save lives and restore normal and just peace in Ukraine and throughout Europe more quickly,”
— President Volodymyr Zelensky, after the first Skynex arrival. euro-sd.com
Follow‑on Skynex? In March 2024, Rheinmetall announced a further Skynex contract to a European customer, widely assessed in the trade press as Ukraine, with deliveries from 2025; official quantities remain undisclosed. Rheinmetall
Skyranger (announced; deliveries expected to begin this year)
- The news. In an interview with ZDF (German TV) on Sept 8, 2025, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said a contract worth “hundreds of millions of euros” for Skyranger will be signed at DSEI 2025 in London, with first deliveries by year‑end. ZDFheute
- Independent reporting. DefenseNews wrote that Rheinmetall is poised to deliver Skyranger by year’s end (as of the morning of Sept 11, a press notice had not yet posted). The Financial Times also reported deliveries to Ukraine expected to begin by year‑end and cited Rheinmetall’s plan to scale to 200 Skyrangers/year. Defense News
- Where will they sit? Skyranger turrets can ride on Leopard 1 (demonstrated publicly in Sept 2024), Lynx, or Boxer; Ukraine operates Leopard 1A5s, making Leopard‑based Skyrangers plausible for rapid fielding. (Rheinmetall has shown Skyranger 35 on Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 hulls in live‑fire demos and press kits.) euro-sd.com
“Each of these systems can cover four by four kilometers … all drones will be taken down,”
— Armin Papperger, explaining Skyranger’s protective bubble. ZDFheute
How they work together (and with what Ukraine already has)
Ukraine fields a layered mix—Patriot for ballistic/cruise missiles, IRIS‑T for medium range, Gepard for VSHORAD guns—and now Skynex slots into the very‑short range, cost‑effective drone‑kill tier. Berlin’s ledger notes 3 Patriot , 6 IRIS‑T (SLM/SLS), 60 Gepards, 16 TRML‑4D radars, and 2 Skynex delivered by April 2025. Bundesregierung
Skyranger adds a high‑mobility, armored, self‑contained layer that can move with brigades or protect static sites without deploying separate trailers and trucks. Technically, Skyranger 35 brings 4 km gun reach (AHEAD airburst), while Skyranger 30 trades some range for integrated missiles (e.g., Stinger) on the turret. Rheinmetall
Is the cost‑exchange finally favorable?
Ukraine and NATO have wrestled with the absurdity of shooting $1–3 million missiles at $20–100k drones; even President Zelensky publicly urged allies to adopt more affordable counter‑drone layers. Business Insider
That’s where Skynex/Skyranger matter most. Rheinmetall highlights cannon‑based air defense as the cheap‑per‑shot antidote to massed UAVs; the Financial Times reported the firm’s claim of a ~$5,000 per‑drone defeat cost with its low‑cost C‑UAS approach—orders of magnitude cheaper than SAMs. Financial Times
Meanwhile, Europe is securing the ammunition pipeline. Rheinmetall has received a large 35 mm AHEAD order (low triple‑digit millions of euros), and Berlin has delivered >330,000 rounds of Gepard ammo—the same 35×228 mm family used by Skyranger 35 and Skynex. The Wall Street Journal
What the latest battlefield evidence shows
- Ukrainian Air Force: July videos show Skynex engaging and destroying multiple Shaheds; the Air Force called results “impeccable” and “inspiring.” The Kyiv Independent
- United24 / Ukrainian outlets: reports of seven Shaheds downed in one night with Skynex underscore the system’s suitability for nightly mass raids. (Official kill accounting remains with Ukraine’s Air Force.) UNITED24 Media
Expert & official voices
“Each [Skyranger] can cover four by four kilometers … all drones will be taken down.” — Armin Papperger, CEO, Rheinmetall (ZDF interview). ZDFheute
“The German aid is helping to save lives … in Ukraine and throughout Europe more quickly.” — Volodymyr Zelensky, after Skynex’s first delivery. euro-sd.com
“Rheinmetall’s Skynex … shows impeccable results in destroying enemy strike UAVs.” — Ukrainian Air Force (Telegram statement summarized by Kyiv Independent). The Kyiv Independent
What to watch next
- Contract paperwork. As of the DSEI news cycle, Skyranger’s contract was described as to be signed; reputable outlets expect first vehicles in 2025. Watch for a formal press release with quantities and chassis. Defense News
- Chassis choice. Leopard 1‑based Skyranger 35 is already proven; Boxer or Lynx options exist. The choice will balance speed of fielding, survivability, and logistics with Ukraine’s existing fleets. euro-sd.com
- Sensors & networking. A fresh €340 m radar package from Hensoldt (TRML‑4D + SPEXER 2000 Mk III) will improve tracking and cueing for both missile and gun layers—key to skilling drones at scale. HENSOLDT
- Industrial base in/for Ukraine. Rheinmetall’s broader Ukraine footprint is expanding (e.g., new shell plant), which matters for sustaining high‑volume ammunition and spares. Reuters
Frequently asked questions
How many Skynex does Ukraine have?
Germany’s official aid list confirms two Skynex systems with ammunition delivered by April 2025. Rheinmetall later announced a follow‑on Skynex contract for an unnamed European customer, widely assessed as Ukraine, but quantities weren’t disclosed. Bundesregierung
Are Skyrangers definitely arriving in 2025?
Rheinmetall’s CEO said yes on ZDF; DefenseNews and the FT reported deliveries by year‑end are expected. We’re awaiting an official contract notice for final details. ZDFheute
What’s the difference between Skynex and Gepard?
Gepard is a self‑propelled twin‑35 mm system with its own radars; Skynex is a networked architecture with separate, swappable sensors and up to multiple guns connected to a central C2, making it highly modular and upgradable (including future laser or missile effectors). Rheinmetall
How do Skyranger 30 and 35 differ?
Skyranger 35: 35×228 mm, ~4 km effective gun range, AHEAD airburst;
Skyranger 30: 30×173 mm, ~3 km with optional turret‑mounted missiles (e.g., Stinger) for added reach—all on a single armored vehicle. Rheinmetall
Sources & further reading
- Official / manufacturer: Germany’s aid ledger (lists 2× Skynex + ammo, 60× Gepard, 16× TRML‑4D, IRIS‑T & Patriot), Skynex and Skyranger tech pages & press kits, and Bundeswehr Skyranger 30 milestone. Rheinmetall
- Current news: ZDF interview with Rheinmetall’s CEO; DefenseNews and Financial Times on the Skyranger Ukraine deal & production scale. ZDFheuteNews
- In‑theater evidence: Air Force‑released Skynex videos and Ukrainian reporting on recent Shahed shoot‑downs. The Kyiv Independent
- Industry context: AHEAD ammo orders and Europe’s radar package for Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal
Bottom line
Skynex is already punching above its weight in Ukraine’s nightly drone war, giving defenders a cheap‑per‑shot tool to counter mass Shahed raids. Skyranger will push that same effect onto armored, mobile platforms, extending affordable counter‑UAS coverage to where troops and key nodes need it most. If deliveries start this year as indicated, expect Ukraine’s very‑short‑range layer to grow more lethal, mobile, and sustainable—exactly what a drone‑heavy battlefield demands. ZDFheute
