Rheinmetall’s high-mobility, BOXER-based solution for ground-based air defence
Rheinmetall presents its new Oerlikon SKYRANGER Boxer, a high-mobility, highly effective, future-proof wheeled armoured air defence vehicle based on the battle-tested BOXER, born and bred for network-enabled operations, at Eurosatory 2018.
The Oerlikon SKYRANGER Boxer is designed first and foremost for short- and very short-range mobile, ground-based air defence. It can shoot down incoming rockets as well as mortar rounds – but also unmanned aerial systems, including the low, slow and small kind, e.g. quadrocopter drones; it is also highly effective against low-flying aircraft.
The heart of the new Oerlikon SKYRANGER Boxer is the air defence module, equipped with an Oerlikon REVOLVER Gun Mk3 turret. The system features an integrated sensor unit with X-band tracking radar and electro-optical sensors as well as electronic warfare components. This enables swift, autonomous engagement of externally assigned targets. The SKYRANGER can receive and process target data from both 2D and 3D search radars. Furthermore, the integrated search sensor technology and Oerlikon SKYMASTER battle management system give the SKYRANGER an autonomous sector-monitoring and target engagement capability.
The tried-and-tested 35mm x228 cal. Revolver Gun delivers massive firepower and excellent precision. Teamed with Rheinmetall’s proprietary Ahead airburst ammunition, the Oerlikon REVOLVER Gun Mk3 is extremely effective against low altitude aerial targets of virtually every type.
Known in German as the “Skyranger-FlaK-Radpanzer”, the new system is based on the combat-proven BOXER wheeled armoured vehicle. Thanks to its modular architecture, this highly mobile, protected 8×8 vehicle combines extreme operational versatility with excellent future adaptability. Owing to its design, the BOXER mission module can carry a payload of up to 15 tonnes. Thus far, some 700 of these vehicles have been delivered to, or ordered by, three different NATO member nations: Germany, the Netherlands and Lithuania.
In addition, in March 2018, the Australian government recommended procuring the BOXER Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV). The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) also announced in March that it would be re-joining the BOXER programme via the international procurement agency OCCAR. This will make it possible for the UK to procure the BOXER under the rubric of its Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) defence project. The BOXER is manufactured by ARTEC, a joint venture owned by KMW (36%) and Rheinmetall (64%).
Eurosatory 2018 is showcasing the future of innovation across the land forces sector and MONCh (Moench Online News Channel at www.monch.com) brings together key developments from the show. For more information please see MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #06/2018, available at the show in hall 6, stand #D198.; and frequently check back for more NEWS FROM THE FLOOR.
