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Oerlikon Skyranger

2018 MODERN

The Oerlikon Skyranger Story

The Oerlikon "Skyranger" originated in Switzerland and is known as the Mobile Air Defense System (MADS), a weapon network designed around mobility and modular qualities in a close combat environment. In the former, airspace denial weapons and related systems are mounted on 8x8 Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), allowing the system to move quickly, have the inherent amphibious capability of cutting off water, and the ability to traverse land to keep up with the main force. strength.

For the latter, the Skyranger network represents a suite of related weapons and systems, operated from a single multi-wheeled chassis to simplify logistics and operations.

The end result is a complete, state-of-the-art airspace blockade network capable of protecting vital assets such as airbases and bridges. The wheeled nature of all network components ensures tactical flexibility in virtually any land warfare environment.

Vehicles in the family tree include the Skyranger Gun autocannon platform, the Skyranger missile launch vehicle, and the Skyranger Search Radar Control Node (SRCN) for advanced search and track. The Skyranger gun houses a 35mm Oerlikon automatic cannon (based on the Rheinmentall Oerlikon GDM-008 "Millennium" gun, which has been shown to be a naval melee weapon system on warships) in front of the turret, and also provides a complete 360 degree rotating main gun as high/low altitude tracking.

The Skyranger Missile Launcher deploys 2 quad launchers (8 missiles in total) mounted on either side of the moveable turret. Currently, supported missile systems include the U.S. Stinger and the German-South African Cheetah for denial and competition in close-range airspace.

SRCN vehicles are equipped with appropriate search and tracking systems to support accuracy, efficiency and IFF across the network.

All turrets in the Skyranger system have unmanned turrets, reducing deployed crews. Test chassis supporting the Skyranger system include ARTEC "Boxer" and MOWAG vehicles of the "Piranha III" and "Piranha IV" series, which are already in use worldwide.

Skyranger, launched in 2009, is actively marketed at the time of writing (2019). In addition to its intended use as an airspace denial system, the Skyranger is also capable of engaging ground targets from a distance.