Rheinmetall Air Defence has secured a contract from the Dutch Ministry of Defence to supply Skyranger air defence systems to the Netherlands Armed Forces.
The deal, estimated at a high triple-digit million-euro value, calls for system deliveries between late 2028 and late 2029.
Under the agreement, the Netherlands will purchase a two-digit number of Skyranger units in both mobile and stationary versions, with a large share of production value generated domestically.
Initial prototype construction will be carried out by Rheinmetall Switzerland, while Rheinmetall Netherlands in Ede will take on a central role in the manufacture and assembly of subsequent systems.
Once fielded, the systems will be deployed with the Defence Ground-based Air Defence Command at Lieutenant-General Best Barracks in Vredepeel, in the country’s southeast.
The acquisition is intended to bolster Dutch layered air-defence capabilities amid the rapid rise of drone usage in contemporary warfare, a pattern evident in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence noted that the Skyranger will augment existing short- and medium-range air-defence assets, providing protection for operational units and key infrastructure such as the Port of Rotterdam and military bases.
Its modular turret integrates a sophisticated sensor suite, a 30 mm Revolver cannon, and a short-range missile launcher compatible with Mistral 3, Stinger, and SkyKnight interceptors.
The cannon delivers a rate of fire of up to 1,250 rounds per minute with an effective range of approximately 3 km, employing programmable airburst munitions to maximize hit probability.
A dedicated command system produces a local air picture for rapid threat detection and engagement, enabling the Skyranger to counter a wide range of aerial threats including drones, helicopters, aircraft, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions.
Looking ahead, the system is slated to incorporate directed-energy weapons, beginning with 20 kW lasers and scaling up to 100 kW, significantly enhancing its ability to neutralize small, agile, and low-signature targets at low cost per engagement.
