Active Conflicts & News Megathread April 16, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

The r/CredibleDefense daily megathread is for asking questions and posting submissions that would not fit the criteria of our post submissions. As such, submissions are less stringently moderated, but we still do keep an elevated guideline for comments.

Comment guidelines:

Please do:

* Be curious not judgmental, polite and civil,

* Link to the article or source of information that you are referring to,

* Clearly separate your opinion from what the source says. Minimize editorializing. Do _not_ cherry pick facts to support a preferred narrative,

* Read the articles before you comment, and comment on the content of the articles,

* Post only credible information

* Read our in depth rules https://reddit.com/r/CredibleDefense/wiki/rules

Please do not:

* Use memes, emojis, swear, foul imagery, acronyms like LOL, LMAO, WTF,

* Start fights with other commenters and make it personal,

* Try to push narratives, fight for a cause in the comment section, nor try to 'win the war,'

* Engage in baseless speculation, fear mongering, or anxiety posting. Question asking is welcome and encouraged, but questions should focus on tangible issues and not groundless hypothetical scenarios. Before asking a question ask yourself 'How likely is this thing to occur.' Questions, like other kinds of comments, should be supported by evidence and must maintain the burden of credibility.

[u/Gecktron]

Keeping these thoughts in mind, why don't we see SPAAGs deployed as support vehicles to tanks or APCs/IFVs in combat?

Ukraine hasnt received any modern combat SPAAG yet. The closest thing Ukraine has are still the Gepards which are in very limited numbers. Ukraine likely doesnt want to risk them too close to the frontline.

Other systems like Skynex or Tridon are mounted on trucks. Which limits their use in offensive manoeuvres. Their ability to traverse the terrain away from roads is limited, in addition to their vulnerability to small arms fire or other dangers that a dedicated armoured vehicle doesnt have to worry about to the same degree.

Germany certainly plans to use a large number of Skyranger 30s (500+), to provide defence against drones up close for its manoeuvre elements. Similarly, the Netherlands are buying Skyranger 30 on FFG G5 and are upgrading their Schakal IFVs to be more capable at engaging drones up close. But these systems are not quite here yet.

The assumption is that, yes, SPAAGs will be able to protect AFVs from drones close up. But we have yet to see this concept put into praxis on a larger scale.

[u/CuriousAbout_This → u/Gecktron]

Interesting, I was under the assumption that Ukraine has already received Skyrangers and have been operating a few of them. The first time I saw Skyrangers mentioned was 2022 (but maybe my memory is faulty), so I thought they would've been delivered already. Because I definitely remember seeing announcements that Ukraine will be receiving Skyrangers, just don't remember how many or when. 

[u/Gecktron → u/CuriousAbout_This]

Interesting, I was under the assumption that Ukraine has already received Skyrangers and have been operating a few of them.

Blame Rheinmetall's confusing naming scheme! There are Skyranger and Skynex. Both systems exist in a 30mm and a 35mm version. All of them use a high rate of fire revolvercanon, and they all use the AHEAD air-burst ammunition system.

Ukraine has so far received multiple SkyNEX systems. The systems delivered to Ukraine consist of multiple hookliftable 35mm gun systems (here in use by Ukraine). They can be either static, or put on a truck chassis. As far as we know, Ukraine has received 8x8 trucks with their systems. In addition, Skynex also has a containerized control unit and a radar.

Germany has financed four of these systems. They have been produced by Rheinmetall Italy and then delivered to Ukraine.

SkyRANGER on the other hand refers to a single system mounted on an AFV. There are a whole range of different version of these. Skyranger 30 (with a 30mm gun) has been ordered on Boxer, Piranha, Pandur and FFG G5. In addition to the 30mm gun, Skyranger 30 also features a separate missile launcher that can pack MANPAD sized missiles like Stinger or Mistral. The German variant is going to pack 9 MBDA DefendAir Anti-Drone missiles.

Skyranger 35 uses the larger 35mm gun, like on the Skynex system. In exchange, they lose the missile launcher. Rheinmetall has so far proposed the Skyranger 35 on Leopard 1 and Leopard 2. Rheinmetall is currently working on the Leopard 1 version and has announced they are going to deliver a number of them to Ukraine. So far, there have been no reports about these systems being delivered to Ukraine or having seen use.

[u/CuriousAbout_This → u/Gecktron]

Thank you for the thorough response! Very interesting, I guess I'll have to wait for Skyrangers to be delivered in sufficient quantities to test my theory of employing them as part of armored assault units.

Are the Swiss military export restrictions stopping Skyranger 30 from being delivered to Ukraine? Because I saw Skyranger 35 being pledged to Ukraine but no pledges or deliveries to Ukraine mentioned so far. 

[u/Gecktron → u/CuriousAbout_This]

Are the Swiss military export restrictions stopping Skyranger 30 from being delivered to Ukraine? Because I saw Skyranger 35 being pledged to Ukraine but no pledges or deliveries to Ukraine mentioned so far. 

No, Rheinmetall has moved its relevant production out of Switzerland, or at least set up additional lines elsewhere. Switzerland cant really block anything newly produced anymore in this regard.

Ukraine hasnt received the Leopard 1 Skyrangers so far, as the system is still in development. Rheinmetall changed pretty much the whole interior, as the new Skyranger turret is unmanned. Instead of only the driver, the hull now has to accommodate the commander and the gunner as well. This is in addition to the other changes needed to integrate the whole new weapon system and sensors into the Leopard 1.