Germany will send 45 more Gepard anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine this year, according to German Army Brigadier General Christian Freuding.
The head of the German Defense Ministry’s Ukraine Situation Center told Welt that fifteen systems are expected to land in Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Germany has sent 35 Gepards to Ukraine since the war broke out last year, including 6,000 rounds of ammunition.
Gepard Ammunition Contract
Berlin awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Rheinmetall in February to supply 300,000 rounds of ammunition for the Gepards used by the Ukrainian forces.
The first batch of ammunition is expected by the summer of 2023.
The Pentagon also awarded a $118.3-million contract to Florida-based Global Military Products in June to purchase and deliver Gepard systems to Ukraine.
Effective Against Shaheds
The system has been effective in protecting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure from Russia-launched Shahed drones, the German Embassy tweeted in November last year.
The Krauss-Maffei Wegmann system is based on the chassis of the Leopard main battle tank, featuring twin Oerlikon KDA 35-millimeter guns, each carrying 320 rounds of ammunition.
The platform’s radars provide 360-degree scanning and simultaneous target-tracking capability.
Germany will also send two more IRIS-T SLM air defense systems to Ukraine this year, and four more in 2024, Welt added, citing Freuding.