Romania has signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the procurement of 24 Skyranger 35 and seven Skynex air defense systems. The Skyranger 35 is a mobile short-range air defense platform designed to safeguard maneuvering ground forces, while the Skynex system provides modular, networked protection for fixed installations and critical infrastructure.
According to the Romanian Ministry of Defence, the contract is valued at approximately €982 million ($1.12 billion) and also includes two Millennium close-in weapon systems for maritime air defense missions.
The acquisition forms part of Romania’s broader €5.7 billion ($6.6 billion) defense modernization program, which encompasses the procurement of Lynx KF41 combat vehicles, ammunition, and naval platforms. The Skyranger 35 systems will be integrated onto the Lynx KF41 chassis.
Through these investments, Romania is undertaking one of its most significant defense modernization efforts in recent years, enhancing land-force mobility, strengthening counter-drone capabilities, and reinforcing its strategic military posture in the Black Sea region.
Designed to counter loitering munitions, drone swarms, and conventional aerial threats, the Skyranger 35 combines a 35mm airburst-capable Oerlikon cannon with advanced radar and electro-optical sensors mounted on an armored vehicle platform. The system is capable of autonomously detecting, tracking, and engaging targets while on the move, with an operational range of up to 4,000 meters. Its airburst ammunition is particularly effective against low-cost loitering munitions, including Shahed-type drones deployed in recent conflicts. The system can also operate within integrated air defense networks to protect both mobile units and strategic assets.
