Four years of Gepard in Ukraine: How the vintage German weapon is proving its worth

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Germany announced the delivery of Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion four years ago, marking the first heavy weapons of Western design that Berlin supplied from its own stocks.

On 26 April 2022, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht confirmed the decision on the sidelines of a meeting of around 40 supporting states at Ramstein airbase.

The systems came from industrial stocks and the export had been approved the day before, Lambrecht said at the time.

Germany has since delivered at least 55 Gepard systems to Ukraine, where they have become an integral part of the country’s air defence.

The announcement came shortly after Russian massacres in Bucha became known following the town’s liberation by Ukrainian forces at the end of March 2022.

Before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Germany had offered to supply 5,000 helmets to Ukraine — a response that drew widespread criticism.

The Gepard was the first heavy weaponry Germany delivered without a so-called ring exchange, in which Berlin would supply weapons to a third country that would then send Soviet-type equipment to Ukraine.

Fifteen Gepard anti-aircraft guns were delivered in July 2022.

‘Best drone killer’

The Gepard has been labelled the “best drone killer” by several Ukrainian media outlets.

Russia regularly fires more than 500 drones at Ukraine, most of which are neutralised by air defence systems.

According to Ukrainian outlet Euromaidan Press, the Gepard plays a central role in air defence due to its combination of radar and 35mm cannons, which create a dense cloud of fire and can reliably hit drones.

Air defence missiles such as Patriot or IRIS-T often cost several hundred thousand to several million dollars per deployment and are available in limited quantities.

Jürgen Schoch, Head of Training at Krauss-Maffei, with the then Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, 25 August 2022

The Gepard uses significantly cheaper 35mm ammunition and is therefore particularly suitable for defence against low-cost drones.

Germany resumed ammunition production for the Gepard due to export restrictions from Switzerland and high demand from Ukraine.

Rheinmetall set up its own production capacities in Germany and has been producing new ammunition since then.

The German defence company will supply Ukraine with a further 180,000 rounds of 35mm Gepard ammunition, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026, according to Rheinmetall.

Why Germany phased it out

The Gepard was phased out of the German Bundeswehr as part of post-Cold War reforms.

It was considered complex and expensive to operate, particularly because of its radar and fire-control technology and specialised ammunition.

The Bundeswehr was under political pressure to reduce expenditure and downsize its structures.

Scenarios for which the Gepard had been developed — such as defence against low-flying aircraft or combat helicopters in conventional warfare — were considered increasingly unlikely.

The focus shifted to foreign missions such as in Afghanistan, where ground-based air defence played little role.

The Army Air Defence Force was dissolved in the early 2010s, and the Gepard lost its organisational anchoring within the Bundeswehr.

The Bundeswehr focused on alternative air defence concepts, including lighter, more mobile solutions such as shoulder-launched missiles like the Stinger.

It was only with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that this decision was reassessed.

The massive deployment of drones and cruise missiles showed that capable short-range air defence systems continue to play an important role.

The retirement of the Gepard had created a capability gap, particularly in cost-effective defence against drones — precisely the scenario in which the system has proved particularly effective.

The Bundeswehr will purchase the Skyranger system for similar purposes in the coming years, with around 600 to be procured.

This system is being built by Rheinmetall and is intended to strengthen air defence, particularly against drones.