Berlin, Germany – June 5, 2024 – During the ILA Berlin International Aerospace Exhibition, Rheinmetall Electronics and MBDA Deutschland signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the intention of integrating MBDA’s SADM (Small Anti Drone Missile) into the Skyranger 30 mobile short-range air defense system and other Rheinmetall military vehicles.
Key points
- The objective is to close capability gaps in mobile defense against drones at close range.
- The SADM missile can intercept targets at ranges of 2 to 5/6 km, while the 30 mm gun would come into action at shorter ranges.
- The long-term cooperation seeks the development, production and integration of the missile into various turret systems and Rheinmetall’s digital systems architecture.
#ILA2024: #Rheinmetall and @MBDADeutschland sign #agreement to integrate the Small Anti #Drone Missile into the #Skyranger30 and other #military platformshttps://t.co/VFMOZr1KN0 @ILA_Berlin pic.twitter.com/1gCE12CFvD
— Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) June 5, 2024
According to a joint press release from the companies, the integration aims to close capability gaps in mobile short-range anti-drone defense.
Utilizing Enforcer technologies, this new guided missile offers an effective solution against small and medium-sized drones, providing a high probability of impact at long ranges. For its part, the Skyranger 30’s 30mm cannon offers highly effective mobile defense against air threats by combining firepower, intelligent sensor technology, and high mobility at short range. This means that both weapons complement each other perfectly.
The Letter of Intent aims at a long-term cooperation for the integration of the SADM missile into the Skyranger 30 and other military vehicles, as well as the development, production, and integration of a launcher into various turret systems and Rheinmetall’s digital systems architecture.
Thomas Gottschild, Managing Director of MBDA Germany: «Current conflicts have clearly shown that drone defense is one of the key challenges for armed forces. In order to provide the best possible solution, we are joining forces and leveraging our partnership with Rheinmetall and its turret solutions to close capability gaps in drone defense with the help of our Small Anti-Drone Missile.»
Timo Haas, Chief Digital Officer of Rheinmetall: «As the prime contractor for the Skyranger 30 system in Germany, the Small Anti-Drone Missile is an ideal and logical addition to the capabilities of Rheinmetall’s systems and vehicles. We are working ahead of the curve and are already creating the conditions for industrial readiness in order to quickly implement customer decisions.»
MBDA Deutschland & @RheinmetallAG Pressemitteilung: Integration der Small Anti Drone Missile (SADM) in den Skyranger 30 & weitere militärische Plattformen beabsichtigt ???? https://t.co/uzJjxqv1jD
SADM basiert auf dem MBDA Enforcer Flugkörper, der aktuell bei der Bundeswehr als LWM… pic.twitter.com/ano8Arbxt7— MBDA Deutschland (@MBDADeutschland) June 5, 2024
This solution would allow for effective defense against Class 1 drones, i.e., those with a mass of less than 150 kg, selecting the type of weapon according to the tactical situation. MBDA’s SADM small missile can intercept targets at ranges of between 2 km and 5/6 km, while at shorter ranges Rheinmetall’s powerful 30mm cannon with programmable ammunition would come into play.
