Romania orders 24 Skyranger 35 and 7 Skynex air-defense systems from Rheinmetall
Romania has awarded Rheinmetall a contract for 24 Skyranger 35 guns on the Lynx KF41 chassis and seven Skynex systems, the air-defense slice of a EUR 5.7 billion package and another NATO border state buying gun-and-airburst counter-drone cover at scale.
Romania has awarded Rheinmetall a contract for 24 Skyranger 35 guns on the Lynx KF41 chassis and seven Skynex systems, the air-defense slice of a EUR 5.7 billion package and another NATO border state buying gun-and-airburst counter-drone cover at scale.
The Romanian government awarded Rheinmetall a contract on June 24 for 24 Skyranger 35 systems mounted on the Lynx KF41 tracked chassis, seven Skynex systems, and two Millennium Guns for naval use, the company said. Romanian Ministry of Defence figures cited by The Defense Post put the air-defense award at 982 million euros, the counter-drone portion of the 5.7 billion euro buy first announced on June 2, which also covers Lynx combat vehicles, ammunition, and ships.
The Skyranger 35 carries a 35mm Oerlikon revolver cannon firing programmable AHEAD airburst rounds, paired with its own radar and electro-optical sensors, and engages targets out to about 4,000 meters while on the move, Rheinmetall said. Skynex defends fixed sites with the same 35mm gun line. Both fire the airburst ammunition Ukraine has used since early 2024 to down Russian Shahed-type one-way attack drones, at a per-shot cost the manufacturer puts far below any interceptor missile.
Rheinmetall air-defense chief Oliver Dürr tied the order to "the recent drone incident" in Romanian airspace, where Russian one-way drones have crossed during strikes on the Danube ports, Defence Industry Europe reported. Romania becomes NATO's second Lynx operator after Hungary, and a second eastern-flank state after Ukraine to field the 35mm Skyranger and Skynex pair.
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Subscribe Free →Older Gepard guns hold Romania's air-defense role until the Skyranger systems deliver, Rheinmetall said. Delivery, across the wider package's 2028-to-2030 schedule, is the next test for a franchise the war next door keeps turning into firm orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Romania order from Rheinmetall?
A contract for 24 Skyranger 35 systems on the Lynx KF41 tracked chassis, seven Skynex systems, and two Millennium Guns for maritime use, Rheinmetall said. Romanian Ministry of Defence figures cited by The Defense Post value the air-defense award at 982 million euros.
How does this fit the broader EUR 5.7 billion package?
The air-defense award is one slice of a 5.7 billion euro buy that also covers Lynx combat vehicles, ammunition, and naval vessels, according to The Defense Post and Rheinmetall. The wider package was first announced on 2 June 2026.
What is the Skyranger 35?
A mobile short-range air-defense system: a 35mm Oerlikon revolver cannon firing programmable AHEAD airburst rounds, paired with radar and electro-optical sensors on a protected vehicle. It engages drones, loitering munitions, and aircraft out to about 4,000 meters while on the move, Rheinmetall said.
Why is Romania buying this now?
Rheinmetall air-defense chief Oliver Dürr tied the order to a recent drone incident in Romanian airspace. Russian one-way attack drones have crossed into Romanian airspace during strikes on the Danube ports, Defence Industry Europe reported.
How does the Skyranger differ from Skynex?
Both use Rheinmetall's 35mm airburst gun line. The Skyranger 35 is vehicle-mounted to protect maneuvering forces, while Skynex is a fixed-site, networked system for defending bases and critical infrastructure, The Defense Post reported.
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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.