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An undisclosed number of Skyranger 35 air defence systems will be supplied to Ukraine by German arms manufacturers Rheinmetall.
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has announced that they will be supplying Skyranger 35 air defence systems to Ukraine in their continued defence against Russia.
The €3 million (AU$5.3 million) order is being financed by an undisclosed EU country as a part of the European Union’s Windfall Profit Mechanism initiative, which uses profits from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine. Production and integrations of the systems will take place in Rome.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, said “we are grateful for the trust that Ukraine has placed in us”.
“We would also like to thank the EU country for the support, which underlines our continued efforts to support Ukraine.”
The air defence system is a mobile cannon-based system that can be mounted onto active Leopard 1 tanks and has a range of up to 4,000 metres. Equipped with a KDG 35/1000 revolver cannon, it has a firing rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. The Skyranger 35 is an airburst-capable system, allowing it to explode midair.
As Ukraine continues to fight against Russia, defence companies have begun using the conflict as an opportunity to gather real on-field data on the effectiveness of their systems. The Brave1 Ukrainian government platform allows companies to use new defence systems by the Ukrainian war effort in a “mutually beneficial” partnership.
“Building mutually beneficial partnerships with technology companies from allied nations is one of our top priorities,” said Andriy Hrytseniuk, Brave1 CEO, in July.
“This approach allows the Ukrainian military to access breakthrough technologies while enabling international manufacturers to develop cutting-edge products that meet real battlefield needs.”
Rheinmetall’s supply comes as new discussions reveal the possibility of the United States supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, a deal that would significantly increase Ukraine’s current capabilities.
“We may not, but we may do it … Do they [Russia] want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
