Belgium Orders 20 Skyranger 30 Guns for Fixed-Site Drone Defense, With Deliveries From Late 2028
The hooklift-mounted guns are the short-range drone layer of Belgium's Blue Dome network, and they start arriving a year after the first NASAMS missile systems are due.
The hooklift-mounted guns are the short-range drone layer of Belgium's Blue Dome network, and they start arriving a year after the first NASAMS missile systems are due.
Belgium signed for 20 Skyranger 30 air-defense systems on Nov. 9, Rheinmetall said. Deliveries begin at the end of 2028. The company valued the package, logistics included, in the "mid three-digit million-euro range." Belgian news agency Belga put it at about half a billion euros.
The guns will sit on hooklift platforms for the stationary protection of Belgian territory and critical infrastructure, and will be tied into the Blue Dome command-and-control network, according to the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Belgium order?
Twenty Skyranger 30 air-defense systems with a logistics package, under a contract Rheinmetall announced on Nov. 9, 2026. The company valued it in the mid three-digit million-euro range, and Belga put it at about half a billion euros.
When will the systems arrive?
Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2028, according to Rheinmetall.
How will Belgium use them?
As static defenses. Rheinmetall said the systems will be installed on hooklift platforms for the stationary protection of Belgian territory and critical infrastructure, and integrated into the Blue Dome command-and-control architecture.
What is the Skyranger 30?
A turret built around a 30 mm KCE revolver cannon. Army Technology put its rate of fire at up to 1,200 rounds a minute, and Rheinmetall gives an effective range of up to 3 kilometers with programmable air-burst ammunition for small, fast-moving and swarming targets.
What is Blue Dome?
Belgium's layered air-defense network: 10 NASAMS missile systems, 20 Skyranger 30 guns, 14 Thales GM200 radars and 54 command vehicles, bought jointly with the Netherlands for €3.1 billion including ammunition.
Who will operate the systems?
The Belgian Air Force's 51st Squadron, reactivated on Nov. 9 after 37 years, Defense Minister Theo Francken said. It is based at Beauvechain for now and is due to move to Ursel by 2032 at the latest.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.