Rheinmetall has been selected for a contract as part of the Austrian Armed Forces’ expansion plan. The company will supply advanced Skyranger air defense systems in a deal worth several hundred million euros. Deliveries are set to begin in 2026, marking a step in modernizing Austria’s air defense capabilities.
will act as a subcontractor to the vehicle manufacturer General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), which has been tasked with modernizing the Austrian fleet of Pandur vehicles as part of the armed forces’ mobility initiative. The Skyranger represents a versatile air defense turret solution that can be mounted on various suitable vehicle platforms, in this case, the 6×6 GDELS Pandur EVO.
A total of 36 Austrian Pandur vehicles will be equipped with the Skyranger turret, enhancing their mobile air defense capabilities. The Skyranger combines state-of-the-art sensors, a powerful 30mm cannon, and Mistral-guided missiles.
This contract follows a development order won by Rheinmetall for the Skyranger in Hungary in December 2023, marking the system’s definitive entry into the market. The success in Austria signals the beginning of a widespread introduction of the Skyranger 30 across Europe, with imminent orders expected from Germany and Denmark, as well as Hungary, following the successful completion of the development contract in that country.