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Delivery of the systems is scheduled to begin at the end of 2028. Additionally, the company has indicated its willingness to extend its collaboration with Belgian industry into further innovative fields, including stationary and deployable drone defence solutions.

With this contract, Rheinmetall is continuing a long-standing partnership: precisely 50 years ago, the company (then operating as Oerlikon Contraves and in cooperation with Krauss-Maffei) supplied a total of 36 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to the Belgian armed forces. The Skyranger contract now signed marks the beginning of a new technological chapter in the partnership.

Pragmatism and close binational cooperation

The swift contracting process, which was completed in less than one and a half years, is largely due to the Belgian authorities’ clear political commitment to protecting their own population. The procurement programme was carried out in close consultation with both Rheinmetall and Belgium’s close partner, the Netherlands, ensuring the smooth and coherent implementation of the overall system by all parties involved.

“With the signing of the Skyranger contract, we are opening a new chapter in our 50-year partnership together with the Belgian armed forces. The rapid technological evolution of airborne threats requires cutting-edge, fully integrated defence systems. The Skyranger 30 will make a decisive contribution to reliably safeguard Belgian territory and critical infrastructure”, said Roman Köhne, CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defence.

Substantial involvement of Belgian industry

A key pillar of the programme is the intended involvement of the Belgian industrial ecosystem. Belgian technology companies are to be closely integrated into the value chain. Rheinmetall is thus providing targeted support for the further development of Belgian security companies into international players.

Protection against modern airborne threats

In light of the rapid technological evolution of airborne threats – particularly those posed by unmanned aerial systems (drones) – on the modern battlefield, the Skyranger 30 offers highly effective countermeasures. The system will be fully integrated into the overarching command and control (C2) architecture of the Belgian ‘Blue Dome’ programme.