It has not often been the case in recent decades that Austria has made (positive) international headlines with armaments projects. The announcement on Monday procurement of 225 additional Pandur Evolution armored personnel carriers from manufacturer GDELS-Steyr was such a rare exclamation mark – now follows the purchase of Skyranger anti-aircraft turrets from Rheinmetall Air Defense the next one.
The order is so sensational because Austria is the first nation ever to sign for the completely newly developed air defense tower, as Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and Rheinmetall Air Defence CEO Oliver Dürr explained at a press conference in Vienna.
“Austria
is the first country in Europe to receive the new air defence systems and is thus assuming a unique pioneering role in ground-based air defense
.
”
Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner
“Austria is the first country in Europe to receive the new air defence systems and is thus assuming a unique pioneering role in ground-based air defense,” said the Defence Minister. “In Rheinmetall Air Defense, we have found a competent partner with whom we can enjoy excellent cooperation. This is a milestone in the defense against threats from the air and in our ‘Mission Forward’. We are thus taking another important step towards maintaining Austria’s security!” https://militaeraktuell.at/rheinmetall-wie-funktioniert-der-skyranger-turm/ Austria’s pioneering role was certainly not due to a lack of international interest in the system. For example Denmark, for example, already opted for the Skyranger last year (a contract is to be signed in the second quarter) and on December 15 of the previous year, Hungary commissioned Rheinmetall Hungary with the conceptual development of the Skyranger for the future air defense variant of the Lynx KF41. The German Armed Forces has the turret on its shopping listThe contract for an estimated 19 systems based on the Boxer wheeled armored vehicle is scheduled to be signed in Germany next week.
Austria, on the other hand, is procuring 36 Skyranger turrets in a first tranche, which will be produced by subcontractor Rheinmetall Air Defence (according to the company, the order value is “in the mid three-digit million euro range”) and then assembled by General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr at the plant in Vienna Simmering on some of the newly ordered Pandur Evolution. As part of an option anchored in the contract for 158 additional vehicles, a further nine Pandurs with Skyranger turrets could be procured, giving Austria a fleet of 45 highly mobile anti-aircraft turrets in a few years’ time. In addition, there will then be rapidly deployable 35-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, for which the army already commissioned Rheinmetall Air Defence with the comprehensive modernization of its existing systems last December. systems.
“Rheinmetall
is thus once again underscoring its technological leadership in short-range air defence.”
Rheinmetall Air Defence-CEO Oliver Dürr
Rheinmetall Air Defence CEO Oliver Dürr expressed his satisfaction at the press conference: “Rheinmetall is thus once again underscoring its technological leadership in short-range air defense.”
“The system developed by Rheinmetall in Switzerland makes a decisive contribution to improving air defence capabilities – initially in Austria, but also in other countries in the near future.
”
Rheinmetall-Chef Armin Papperger
Armin Papperger, CEO of the Rheinmetall Group, is also quoted in a recent press release: “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by our friends and partners in Austria.
The system developed by Rheinmetall in Switzerland makes a decisive contribution to improving air defense capabilities – initially in Austria, but also in other countries in the near future.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKquywQblXQ The Austrian Armed Forces is also responding to the experience gained in the Ukraine warin which the defense against drones (-> see article “War of Dornes”) plays a major role. The Skyrangers that have now been ordered are to be delivered by 2030, with the first vehicles being handed over as early as 2027. The turret combines a cannon with a cadence (firing rate) of more than 1,100 rounds per minute, which means that so-called Ahead ammunition can also be fired. In addition, there is a Mistral 3 guided missile (two guided missiles can probably be carried) and extensive sensor technology, which also enables the vehicle to fight on its own, independently of a higher-level situation picture.
Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer also expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition to the Austrian Armed Forces in a press release: “This marks the beginning of a new era for the Austrian Armed Forces. Our goal, as I have also laid down in the Austrian Plan, is to live a defensive neutrality that also protects the population from threats. We are upgrading the army by purchasing 225 Pandur Evolution wheeled tanks. The Skyranger placed on the tanks defends against drones and ballistic missiles. This investment is the first step towards secure air defense and therefore also an important contribution to the Sky Shield missile shield (-> Austria plans to participate) when it comes to being able to protect our neutral country.”
“This investment is the first step towards secure air defense and thus also an important contribution to the Sky Shield missile shield when it comes to protecting our neutral country.
”
Bundeskanzler Karl Nehammer
Incidentally, the tower was developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence in close cooperation with the Procurement Directorate of the Ministry of Defence and in particular with Brigadier Georg Kollmann (-> see interview in Militär Aktuell) further developed and slimmed down. Originally designed for larger and heavier vehicle classes such as the Boxer, it was possible to save more than a ton of weight by dispensing with the centrally located hatch, using carbon, reducing to three radar panels and numerous other measures, thus making the turret suitable for the Pandur, which is significantly smaller than the Boxer.
In the future, the mobile air defense vehicles will be stationed in all brigades throughout Austria.
Here you can find more army news, here to further news from Rheinmetall and here to further news about General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr.
