On January 29, 2025, the Netherlands decided to procure 22 Skyranger 30 short-range air defense systems mounted on ACSV Gen 5 tracked armored vehicles as part of its Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) program. The Dutch Ministry of Defense expects to sign the contracts soon, with deliveries scheduled for 2028.
This procurement is intended to provide the Netherlands with a mobile short-range air defense capability against drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft. The system will be integrated into the Defense Ground-Based Air Defense Command (DGLC) at Lieutenant-General Best Barracks in Vredepeel, with an additional 125 personnel planned for deployment.
In recent years, Europe has intensified efforts to enhance its air defense capabilities, driven by recent conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have demonstrated the expanded use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance, target acquisition, and precision strikes, impacting ground forces and logistics. In response, Europe is actively enhancing its air defense capabilities through initiatives like the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), launched in October 2022. As of July 2024, 22 European nations have joined ESSI, aiming to establish an integrated ground-based air defense system with anti-ballistic missile capabilities. The European Defence Agency (EDA) is also facilitating collaborative projects among member states to develop missile defense and electronic warfare capabilities, addressing critical military needs.
Therefore, several European countries have decided to procure or evaluate the Skyranger 30 short-range air defense system as part of these efforts. Austria signed a contract in February 2024 for 36 Skyranger 30 systems mounted on Pandur EVO 6×6 vehicles, with deliveries set to begin in 2026. The contract includes an option for nine additional units. The Austrian version features a turret that is one ton lighter than the standard model and carries two Mistral missiles due to the vehicle’s load capacity. Denmark ordered 16 Skyranger 30 turrets on Mowag Piranha V 8×8 vehicles in September 2024, including four prototypes and pre-production turrets for delivery by 2026, with 12 production systems to follow in 2027 and 2028. Germany ordered 19 Skyranger 30 systems on GTK Boxer vehicles in February 2024 for €595 million, including one prototype and 18 production units. An additional 30 units are planned, and these systems will be armed with Stinger missiles. The Netherlands’ acquisition aligns with these purchases, contributing to NATO’s efforts to enhance collective air defense interoperability.
The Netherlands is modernizing its air defense capabilities through multiple acquisitions. The country plans to integrate the Skyranger 30 with the Norwegian Mobile Ground-Based Air Defense System (NOMADS), which will be mounted on the ACSV G5 platform, replacing the current Fennek vehicles equipped with FIM-92 Stinger missiles. NOMADS will use the NASAMS command system and be armed with AIM-9X II Sidewinder missiles with a 15 km range, with entry into service planned by 2028. The Netherlands is also acquiring 21 NASAMS units, which will be equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM-ER missiles, to strengthen medium-range air defense alongside its existing Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 MSE missile batteries. Additionally, the Netherlands, in cooperation with Germany and Italy, is procuring 940 FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The NOMADS system will include five command vehicles based on the ACSV G5 platform. The Netherlands currently operates two NASAMS II batteries with AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radars and four Patriot batteries under 802 Squadron.
The ACSV G5, developed by Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) for the Norwegian Army, is a modular Armoured Combat Support Vehicle designed as an alternative to modernized M113-based vehicles. Development started in 2012 as a private initiative to compete in the global market with tracked and wheeled vehicles in a similar weight category. The vehicle was first presented at Eurosatory 2014 and underwent testing in various environments, including desert trials in Abu Dhabi and winter trials in Norway. Serial production began in 2021, with Norway as the first confirmed operator. It has a payload capacity of up to 9,000 kg and can be configured for multiple operational purposes, including command and control, medical evacuation, logistics recovery, and air defense. It features modular protection systems and a composite rubber track for reduced noise and vibration. The vehicle is designed for use with both the Skyranger 30 and NOMADS, optimizing logistics and maintenance efficiency for the Netherlands.
The Skyranger 30 is a short-range air defense system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG, first publicly shown in March 2021 to address the reduction of mobile air defense assets in Western land forces following the Cold War. The turret weighs between 2.5 and 3.4 tons and is equipped with the Oerlikon KCE 30×173 mm cannon, capable of firing airburst rounds at a rate of up to 1,250 rounds per minute with an effective range of 3 km. It carries 300 ready rounds, including PMC308 ammunition with 162 tungsten subprojectiles and the PMC455 variant under development with around 500 tungsten cylinders. The system can integrate two or four short-range surface-to-air missiles, including Stinger, Mistral, or SkyKnight, extending engagement range up to 9 km. A version has also been developed with nine Small Anti-Drone Missiles (SADM) based on the MBDA Enforcer, with a range of 5–6 km.
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