German defense company Rheinmetall announced on 10 October 2025 a contract to supply Ukraine with Skyranger 35 mobile air defense systems mounted on Leopard 1 tracked vehicles. The deal, valued in the high hundreds of millions of euros, is financed using profits from frozen Russian assets, representing a historic shift in European military funding.
Rheinmetall stated that the Skyranger 35 will further strengthen Ukraine’s layered air defense network. Production and integration will take place at Rheinmetall Italia in Rome. While the exact number of systems is undisclosed, the scale indicates at least a full mobile air defense battalion capable of protecting strategic infrastructure, forward command posts, and key logistics corridors vulnerable to Russian air attacks.
The Leopard 1-based Skyranger 35 is compact yet highly effective, offering a balance of armor, mobility, and firepower. This makes it particularly suitable for Ukraine’s dynamic frontline, where terrain often limits wheeled platforms.
The system’s core is a 35×228 mm KDG 35/1000 revolver cannon, firing up to 1,000 rounds per minute. Integrated with Rheinmetall’s AHEAD airburst ammunition, the Skyranger counters threats such as Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munitions, Russian Lancet drones, and low-flying cruise missiles. Each AHEAD round releases tungsten sub-projectiles in front of the target, increasing hit probability against small, fast-moving aerial threats.
With an effective range of up to 4 km, the Skyranger 35 provides high readiness and rapid-response capabilities. It can operate autonomously or networked within larger air defense command structures, acting as a gap-filler in Ukraine’s multi-layered defense. Its modular turret design allows future integration of short-range guided missiles, enabling dual-mode engagement beyond kinetic firepower.
Ukraine’s need for mobile air defense has become urgent due to increased use of UAS and cruise missiles targeting energy and logistics infrastructure. Fixed systems such as NASAMS and IRIS-T provide strong point defense but cannot cover all areas. Skyranger 35 addresses this vulnerability with mobility and rapid redeployment for close-range protection.
Choosing the Leopard 1 chassis reflects a pragmatic approach to mobility. While lacking the advanced armor of modern main battle tanks, its availability and maintainability make it an ideal air defense carrier, ensuring interoperability with Ukraine’s existing Leopard vehicles and enabling rapid fielding.
This contract not only strengthens Ukraine’s immediate defense but sets a strategic precedent. Channeling frozen Russian assets into frontline defense demonstrates Europe’s use of financial tools for tangible military impact. Skyranger 35’s deployment is expected to complicate Russia’s aerial threat planning, offering rapid-fire precision, mobility, and upgrade potential as a key component of Ukraine’s evolving air defense ecosystem.
