At the Airpower2024 exhibition, taking place in Zeltweg, Austria in a few days, Rheinmetall will present a new semi-static 12,7 mm anti-drone battery, mounted on a two-axle trailer.
Designed on the basis of the Natter remotely operated cupola, which notably equips the KF51 Panther, this new system will complement the coverage offered by the Skyranger 30 or 35, particularly in the field of anti-drone warfare, and will significantly densify the very short-range defense of sensitive installations against attack drones.
In this section:
Rheinmetall bets on its CRWS Natter turret for its new semi-static anti-drone battery
Rheinmetall had already taken a very serious option in the anti-aircraft and anti-drone artillery market in recent months, with the success of the Skyranger turret. Available in 30 or 35 mm, it offers coverage within a radius of 3 km against a wide type of threat using its automatic cannon using airburst ammunition, and from 6 to 9 km, depending on the missile used by its pod containing 4 infrared-guided missiles.
Equipped with an AESA radar, integrated into the detection and air defense chain, and able to be mounted on different types of wheeled or tracked armored vehicles, the Skyranger is already establishing itself as a reference in this domain, having been chosen by several European countries, including Germany to replace the Gepard sent to Ukraine.
Austria having expressed the intention of purchasing the system, it is in no way surprising that Rheinmetall will present, at the Airpower2024 exhibition which will be held in early September in the country, a version of the Skyranger on a Pandur armored vehicle , employed by the Austrian army.
More surprising, however, will be the presentation ofa new anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, semi-static, based on the Natter automatic turret, and mounted on a two-axle trailer.
A simple and economical 12.7 mm solution for protecting infrastructure and sensitive sites
Unlike the remote-controlled turret, or RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon System) Natter, which equips the KF51 tank Panther, this version will be armed with a .50 caliber or 12,7 mm machine gun, and not a .35 caliber, or 7,62 mm. In doing so, the system will have an effective range of 1600 meters, and will be able to engage targets such as drones, cruise missiles, or even helicopters or planes operating at low altitude, although it is not designed specifically for this mission.
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