Romania has signed a major €982 million contract with Rheinmetall to acquire 24 Skyranger 35 mobile air-defense systems and seven Skynex networked air-defense systems, marking one of the country’s most significant investments in modern air-defense capabilities. The agreement also includes two Millennium naval close-in weapon systems and forms part of a wider €5.7 billion defense modernization package covering Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles, ammunition, and naval assets.The Skyranger 35 combines a 35mm Oerlikon airburst cannon with advanced radar and electro-optical sensors, enabling autonomous detection, tracking, and engagement of drones, loitering munitions, helicopters, and aircraft while on the move. Complementing this capability, the Skynex system provides modular, networked protection for critical infrastructure. Together, these systems significantly enhance Romania’s layered air-defense architecture while strengthening NATO’s defensive posture across the strategically important Black Sea region.
