Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 combines a surplus Leopard 1 tank chassis with Rheinmetall's unmanned Oerlikon Skyranger 35 turret, turning a Cold War tank hull into a mobile short-range air-defense system for drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. The configuration was publicly demonstrated in Switzerland in September 2024 and later ordered for Ukraine, with Rheinmetall describing Rheinmetall Italia as the production and integration site for the Ukraine systems.
Rheinmetall announced Leopard 1-based Skyranger 35 systems for Ukraine under a three-digit-million-euro order financed by an EU country, with Rheinmetall Italia handling production and integration; Shephard later reported that Ukraine had received its first Leopard 1-mounted Skyranger 35, while other reporting citing Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said the program remained on schedule in January 2026.
Role detailsPublic sources support a Ukraine transfer and delivery lane for Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 systems, but open reporting checked for this entry did not identify a verified battlefield firing, interception, loss, or unit assignment by July 8, 2026. The conflict row therefore treats the system as supplied Ukrainian air-defense equipment rather than a confirmed combat-use event.
The Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 is best read as a carrier conversion: Rheinmetall uses the Leopard 1 hull for tracked mobility and protection while the unmanned Skyranger 35 turret supplies the sensor, fire-control, and 35 mm gun package.
KDG 35/1000 revolver cannon in 35 x 228 mm calibre, with Rheinmetall listing 1,000 rounds per minute and an effective range up to 4,000 m.
Sources: Rheinmetall Leopard 1 Skyranger Ukraine; Janes Kyiv to receive Leopard 1 Skyranger 35.
Rheinmetall's Skyranger 35 datasheet lists 252 ready rounds, an unmanned turret, 360-degree search-radar coverage, Ku-band tracking radar, EO/IR sensors, laser rangefinders, and ROSY smoke launchers.
Source: Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skyranger 35 Datasheet.
Because the turret is unmanned, ESD says the commander and gunner were moved into the hull near the driver while the Leopard 1 hull stayed largely unchanged.
Source: ESD Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 Premiere.
Public sources describe this entry as a Leopard 1 carrier-vehicle installation of the Skyranger 35 turret rather than a new tank family. The main distinctions are the 2024 demonstrator and the later Ukraine production batch.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 demonstrator | Prototype and live-fire demonstrator | European Security & Defence reported that Rheinmetall presented Skyranger 35 on a Leopard 1 chassis publicly for the first time during September 2024 demonstration days at Ochsenboden, Switzerland. Sources: ESD Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 Premiere |
| Ukraine Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 | Contracted Ukrainian air-defense configuration | Rheinmetall said Ukraine's systems would use Leopard 1 chassis, be financed by an EU country through frozen-Russian-asset proceeds, and be produced and integrated by Rheinmetall Italia in Rome. |
The system is defined by combining the Skyranger 35 air-defense turret with the tracked Leopard 1 tank hull.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Tracked carrier vehicle | Rheinmetall and Janes identify the Ukraine system as a Skyranger 35 air-defense system based on the Leopard 1 chassis, while ESD describes the demonstrator's Leopard 1 hull as largely unchanged except for crew-position relocation. Sources: Rheinmetall Leopard 1 Skyranger Ukraine, Janes Kyiv to receive Leopard 1 Skyranger 35, ESD Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 Premiere |
Rheinmetall presented the Skyranger 35 turret on a Leopard 1 chassis at its Ochsenboden range in Switzerland during Skyranger System Demonstration Days.
Sources: ESD Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 Premiere
Rheinmetall said it would supply Ukraine with Leopard 1-based Skyranger 35 air-defense systems under a three-digit-million-euro order financed by an EU country.
Sources: Rheinmetall Leopard 1 Skyranger Ukraine
Defense Express reported, citing Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, that the first Leopard 1-chassis Skyranger 35 systems were expected to arrive in Ukraine the following week; Shephard reported two days later that the first Leopard 1-mounted gun had arrived.
Sources: Defense Express First Leopard 1 Skyranger Delivery, Shephard First Skyranger 35 Arrives
Mezha, citing Papperger's Ukrinform interview, reported that Rheinmetall was delivering the Leopard 1-platform Skyranger within contracted timelines while withholding operational details.
Sources: Mezha Rheinmetall Skyranger On Schedule
The gallery uses Wikimedia Commons versions of the actual Leopard 1 Skyranger 35 image, sourced to Dutch Ministry of Defence magazine coverage and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. No sufficiently verified Leopard 1-specific official YouTube object was added, so the video set is intentionally empty.
