VIENNA / DÜSSELDORF — Defense contractor Rheinmetall, in collaboration with the Austrian Armed Forces and industrial partners Empl and Palfinger, is developing an autonomous mobile reloading system to support the Skyranger mobile air defense family. Internally designated as the “Reloader,” the system is engineered to perform full ammunition magazine exchanges for Skyranger 30 and Skyranger 35 turrets under high-threat combat conditions without requiring crew members to exit armored vehicle protection.
The initiative addresses critical operational endurance and magazine replenishment logistics highlighted by modern peer-to-peer and counter-drone engagements. The robotic system automates the replacement of 400-kilogram magazine packages—containing approximately 250 rounds of 30 mm or 35 mm Ahead airburst ammunition—in a matter of minutes. Designed to operate on a specialized heavy vehicle chassis or via an optional trailing logistics unit, the platform dramatically increases the sustained firing capacity and battlefield persistence of mobile short-range air defense (SHORAD) formations across NATO and allied European armed forces, including Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: RHEINMETALL SKYRANGER AUTOMATIC RELOADER SYSTEM (“RELOADER”)
* System Classification: Autonomous Armored Ammunition Resupply & Robotic Reloading Platform
* Primary Development Partners: Rheinmetall, Austrian Armed Forces, Empl Fahrzeugwerk (Specialized Vehicle Chassis), and Palfinger (Robotic Lifting & Crane Systems)
* Target Compatibility: Skyranger 30 (30×173 mm KCE) and Skyranger 35 (35×228 mm KDG) Mobile Air Defense Turrets
* Automated Handling Mechanism: Robot-assisted mechanical arm engineered for autonomous extraction and insertion of pre-packaged ammunition magazines
* Magazine Payload Package:
* Magazine Weight: ~400 kg (~880 lbs) per fully loaded magazine package
* Ammunition Capacity: ~250 rounds of 30 mm or 35 mm programmable airburst / kinetic grenades
* Operational Cycle Time: Automated complete magazine swap completed in a matter of minutes under complete armor protection
* Logistics & Resupply Capacities:
* Resupply Vehicle Base Payload: 6 ready-use 400-kg magazine packages (~1,500 rounds)
* Logistics Trailer Extension Option: Up to 12 additional magazine packages (~3,000 rounds)
* Maximum Sustained Resupply Capacity: 18 total magazine packages (~4,500 rounds) per logistics unit
* Crew Safety & Force Protection: Full NBC/ballistic cabin protection with zero external crew exposure required during automated reloading operations
* Primary Target Platforms: Pandur Evolution 6×6/8×8, Boxer 8×8, Lynx KF41, and heavy tactical logistics vehicles
