September 3, 2026
The 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Ukrainian Air Force showcased the Skyranger 35, revealing that it has already been in service in Ukraine for some time and is actively defending Ukrainian skies
The latest German Skyranger 35 anti-aircraft systems from Rheinmetall are already in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The first official video featuring the system was released by the 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Ukrainian Air Force.
The video provides a fairly brief look at the system itself, as well as a scene showing the destruction of an aerial target. At the same time, the very fact that the system was publicly demonstrated indicates that a certain number of Skyranger 35s were secretly transferred to Ukraine.
Although the video was released on September 3, it was clearly filmed no later than March 2026. This is evident from the bare trees and the warm clothing worn by the crew.
The commander of the Skyranger 35, whose call sign is “Timati,” noted that the system resembles a spaceship in operation due to its many innovative features. He also clarified that his unit was “among the first” to receive the anti-aircraft system. In other words, the Skyranger 35 was not the only system in service at the time the video was recorded.
Reports from some specialized channels tracking the flow of German defense aid to Ukraine claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had not yet received these systems as of summer 2026. This information, however, turned out to be inaccurate.
The Skyranger 35 is a 35-mm anti-aircraft artillery system. In the version intended for Ukraine, it is mounted on a Leopard 1 tank chassis. The chassis itself has been repaired and upgraded. In particular, one of the photos shows modern electronic systems installed at the driver’s station for controlling the vehicle.
The footage also includes a view from the vehicle’s combat compartment showing an aerial target being destroyed. Although this scene lasts only a few seconds, it clearly demonstrates the system’s high rate of fire and its digital fire control system’s automatic target-tracking capability.
It is worth noting that targets such as drones and cruise missiles are engaged using 35×228 mm programmable airburst ammunition, while the KDG 35 cannon is capable of a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute. The system can effectively engage targets at ranges of up to 4,000 meters.
Overall, Ukraine is set to receive a fairly large number of these systems. In October 2025, Rheinmetall announced that the contract for supplying additional Skyranger 35s to Ukraine was worth hundreds of millions of euros. However, Germany has not disclosed the number of systems or the delivery schedule.