1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment Receives Skyranger Anti-Aircraft Gun

The 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment (AAMAR) demonstrated the Skyranger 35 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun in its arsenal.

The regiment published footage of the system in action on its official Facebook page.

The video shows the Leopard 1-based system being reloaded and fired, successfully engaging an enemy aerial target.

The commander of the Skyranger 35 crew, callsign – Timati, gave positive feedback on the system’s capabilities and operational performance.

“Compared with my previous experience in the military, this is a breakthrough. This is the future,” he said.

Skyranger 35

The Skyranger 35 is a mobile very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) system developed by Rheinmetall, designed to counter UAVs, helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and precision-guided weapons.

Its main armament is a 35 mm Oerlikon KDG cannon with a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 4 km. The turret module carries 252 rounds of ammunition.

A key feature is its AHEAD programmable ammunition, which detonates in front of the target and creates a cloud of sub-projectiles, making it highly effective against small targets.

The system has its own detection and tracking suite, comprising a 3D AESA omnidirectional radar, a Ku-band tracking radar, and an electro-optical sensor with TV and IR cameras and a laser rangefinder. The radars have a stated detection range of up to 35 km.

Additionally, it is equipped with Rheinmetall’s passive FIRST target detection system, which is better suited to detecting small targets. The absence of radar emissions allows the system to operate without being detected by enemy electronic intelligence.

The approximately 4-ton turret with its ammunition load can be integrated onto both wheeled and tracked platforms, including the Boxer, Lynx KF41, and Leopard 2.

The first Skyranger 35 VSHORAD system arrived in Ukraine in November 2025.