Austria follows Germany in ordering Skyranger 30 air defense system

25 February, 2024 Skyranger 30 module. Photo credits: Rheinmetall The Austrian Ministry of Defence placed an order for the new Skyranger 30 air defense systems.

This was reported by the official website of Rheinmetall. According to the signed contract, the Austrian army will start receiving Skyranger 30 air defense modules in 2026. As in the case of Germany, Austria will receive modules with a 30-mm Swiss Oerlikon KCA gun with a rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute.

As an option, a launcher for two FIM-92 Stinger or Mistral missiles can be installed. In total, the Austrian army will receive 36 Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft self-propelled guns, which will be installed on Austrian Pandur EVO armored vehicles.

The Pandur EVO armored vehicles are manufactured in Austria by GDELS, and the new module will be integrated there. On February 21, 2024, the Austrian Ministry of Defense placed an additional order for the production of Pandur armored vehicles in the 6x6 Evolution version. In total, the ground forces will receive 225 Pandur 6x6 Evolution armored personnel carriers in the following versions: ambulance, communications, self-propelled 120-mm mortar, air defense maintenance vehicle, electronic warfare vehicle, and 36 vehicles in the Skyranger 30 version.

Pandur Evo armored personnel carrier of the Austrian Armed Forces.

Photo credits: Bundesheer

In addition, Austria signed a contract to purchase Skyranger 30 three days after Germany did so. Militarnyi previously reported that the Bundestag's budget committee gave permission to purchase Skyranger 30 air defense systems for the German Ground Forces. The cost of the first order is estimated at EUR 650 million.

It will include 19 Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft systems based on the Boxer armored vehicle.

The new systems will be a qualitative addition to other German army air defense systems and an indirect replacement for Gepard self-propelled air defense systems.