At the 2023 Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington, D.C., Rheinmetall, the renowned American defense giant, proudly introduced its latest innovation – the “Skyranger 30.” This cutting-edge short-range air defense (SHORAD) system boasts a 30mm cannon integrated into a robotic combat vehicle.
With the ability to fire an impressive 1,250 30mm airburst rounds per minute, it’s certainly an engineering marvel. It has a versatile range of motion, capable of reaching a maximum elevation of 85 degrees, a maximum depression of -10 degrees, and full 360-degree rotation around its mount.
What truly distinguishes it, however, is its integration with the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) called RIPSAW M5 which serves as its carrier. RIPSAW M5 is produced by Textron Defense Systems, one of Rheinmetall’s partners.
The pairing transforms the Skyranger 30-RIPSAW M5 into a completely autonomous system.
This integrated setup is expected to enhance the system’s ability to proactively detect and neutralize aerial threats such as drones, surpassing the capabilities of crewed vehicles.
A Lightweight SHORAD with Exceptional Aerial Threat Defense
Weighing approximately 10.5 tons, the Skyranger 30 is notably lighter than other SHORAD systems employed by the U.S. Army, including the SHORAD-equipped Stryker.
Despite its reduced size, the Skyranger excels in countering unmanned aerial systems, boasting an impressive 90% success rate within a range of 1.86 miles (3 kilometers).
