Image source: topwar.ru
The German concern Rheinmetall presented the concept of a new mechanism for reloading Skyranger 30/35 anti-aircraft systems. It is assumed that it will significantly speed up the entire replenishment process.
The developer intends to transfer ammunition by replacing the entire empty magazine with a full one using a robotic arm, which, along with a supply of ammunition, will be installed on an 8x8 truck. This solution is designed to facilitate the charging process and reduce the time required for it to a few minutes. In addition, the crew will be safe inside the combat vehicle.
It is planned to place 6 magazines on the truck itself and 12 more on the attached trailer. Each of these magazines weighs approximately 400 kg and holds 250 shells.
Rheinmetall is developing the complex in collaboration with the Austrian companies Palfinger and Empl, as Vienna, being one of the customers of the Skyranger 30, expressed a desire to improve the complex by introducing a new recharge mechanism. At the same time, to implement the idea, the turret system of the combat vehicle will have to be redesigned.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Skyranger 30 is a short-range air defense missile system that can be installed on various ground platforms. Its main armament is the Oerlikon KCA revolver cannon, chambered for 30 x 173 mm, which effectively defeats air and ground targets at a range of 3,000 m. The maximum rate of fire is 1,200 rounds per minute. The system can use programmable ammunition. To destroy targets at long distances, weapons can be supplemented with short-range missiles such as Mistral, Stinger and Chiron, placed in a four-section launcher.
The targets are detected using an S-band radar with AFAR, developed by Rheinmetall Italia. It is capable of detecting targets such as airplanes at a range of up to 20 km; for helicopters, this distance is reduced to 12 km, for missiles up to 10 km, for UAVs up to 5 km.
