Germany to Bet Big on Skyranger Gun System to Address Growing Drone Threat
13th August 2025
Speculation over a very large-scale German order for anti-aircraft guns, as part of a broader air defense initiative focusing, to a significant degree, on counter-drone capabilities, has brought these kinds of weapons back under the spotlight.
Last week, it was reported that German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall is awaiting a multi-billion-dollar order from the German Armed Forces for its Skyranger anti-aircraft gun. During a recent earnings call, the firm’s CEO, Armin Papperger said that he expected Skyranger contracts from the German military worth between $7-9 billion to be signed this year. The systems would be delivered by 2035.
…,
Previously, the German Army relied on the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun to fulfill many of its short-range air defense (SHORAD) needs, especially on the battlefield. Armed with twin radar-aimed 35mm automatic cannons, mounted on a single turret, the Gepard was based on the chassis of the Leopard 1 main battle tank, meaning it could keep up with armored formations on the move. Search and tracking radars on the Gepard allowed it to locate, track, and engage targets at night and amid poor weather conditions.