Ukraine will receive new Skyranger 35 air defense systems: who will finance the deal
10 October 17:27
German defense concern Rheinmetall has announced a new contract to supply Ukraine with Skyranger 35 mobile air defense systems mounted on the chassis of the Leopard 1 combat vehicle, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The deal will be financed by one of the EU member states, and the source of funds will be the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. The total value of the contract is estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.
What is Skyranger 35?
A mobile anti-aircraft system based on the Leopard 1 tank.
It is armed with a 35 mm gun that fires up to 1000 rounds per minute.
It is effective at a distance of up to several kilometers.
It uses air-explosive ammunition that can shoot down not only airplanes and helicopters but also drones.
In the future, it can be equipped with guided missiles.
The Skyranger 35 is considered to be particularly promising for combating drones, which Russia is actively using against Ukraine.
Why is it important for Ukraine?
Air defense as a key to security. Ukraine still lacks air defense capabilities, especially anti-drone systems.
Mobility. Unlike stationary systems, the Skyranger is able to quickly change position and cover troops at the front.
Who pays?
Frozen assets of the Russian Federation. Almost €211 billion of Russian assets have been blocked in the EU (about €260 billion in the world).
In 2024, the EU Council agreed on a €35 billion loan to Ukraine, and the G7 countries, together with the EU, decided on a joint loan of $50 billion (€45 billion) to be repaid with the proceeds of these assets.
The United Kingdom has already used a similar mechanism by allocating £1 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
The first Skyranger 35s are expected to be delivered to Ukraine after production and integration at the Rheinmetall Italia SpA plant in Rome.
This will not only be another strengthening of the Ukrainian air defense system, but also a test of the effectiveness of a new financial mechanism – using profits from frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv’s military.
Rheinmetall is actively increasing its production to support Ukraine, including supplying ammunition, armored vehicles, and plans to set up joint production sites in Ukraine.
The use of frozen Russian assets has long been blocked by legal discussions in the EU, but a mechanism for transferring profits from them to support Ukraine is gradually being formed.
Air defense systems remain among Kyiv’s priority needs, along with ammunition and long-range missiles.
