Germany has officially approved the integration of MBDA’s DefendAir Small Anti-Drone Missile (SADM) into the Rheinmetall Skyranger 30 system — a key milestone in Europe’s layered air-defense modernization. Announced by the German Federal Ministry of Defence on November 5, 2025, the decision enables full-scale development, production, and procurement of the missile, designed to counter the surge in small and micro-drone threats observed in Ukraine and other conflict zones.
According to Hartpunkt, the €490 million program includes both development and an initial production batch, with serial manufacturing expected to begin around 2029. The new effector will enhance the Skyranger 30’s existing 30 mm cannon, giving it a standoff range up to six kilometers — double the effective reach of the gun.
Derived from MBDA’s Enforcer Family
DefendAir builds on MBDA’s Enforcer missile family — a compact 90 mm effector weighing just 7.5 kilograms and less than one meter long. It uses passive day/night guidance, and for its anti-drone role, MBDA has added a booster for extended range and a specialized air-target seeker. Mounted on the Boxer armored vehicle, the Skyranger 30 can carry nine to twelve DefendAir missiles ready to fire, seamlessly integrated into the turret’s architecture.
Layered Gun-Missile Defense
The Skyranger 30 combines the DefendAir missile pod with a 30×173 mm KCE revolver cannon firing AHEAD programmable ammunition. This combination allows for close-range interception with the cannon and longer-range engagements with DefendAir, creating a true multi-layered kill chain.
With 252 ready rounds and up to 1,200 shots per minute, the cannon can engage FPV drones and quadcopters at short distances, while DefendAir intercepts threats hovering beyond gun range — preserving ammunition and increasing survivability.
Smart Radar and Automated Target Handoff
The system integrates Hensoldt’s Spexer air-defense radar, providing 360-degree detection and automated handoff between gun and missile. This minimizes reaction time in the detect-track-engage cycle, allowing German units to neutralize drones before they approach friendly positions. Rheinmetall emphasized that the launcher is fully built into the turret, maintaining mobility and reducing logistic complexity.
Strengthening NATO Counter-UAS Capabilities
DefendAir’s introduction marks a pivotal step in NATO’s broader short-range air-defense revival. Germany’s Skyranger program operates within the European Sky Shield Initiative, and similar platforms are being fielded across allied nations — Austria, Denmark, and Hungary — ensuring interoperability.
By 2029, Germany expects to deploy the first serially produced Skyranger 30 systems with DefendAir, forming the backbone of its armored drone-defense capability.
As the Bundeswehr stated, “The system will thus be fully capable of defending against small and micro drones” — transforming the Skyranger 30 from a gun platform into a purpose-built counter-UAS shield for Europe’s modern battlefield.
