IRIA News

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Germany’s leading defense manufacturer Rheinmetall received an order from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to deliver 180,000 rounds of additional 35mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun to Ukraine.

Under the contract, Rheinmetall would provide Ukraine with 180,000 rounds of HEI-T ammunition (High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer), which would strengthen Kyiv’s air defenses and help the Ukrainian forces counter Russian drones and aircraft. The German government will finance the order, and Ukraine is expected to begin receiving these ammunitions in 2026.

So far, Germany has delivered a total of 55 decommissioned Gepardanti-aircraft tanks from the Bundeswehr inventory to Ukraine. Over the past two years, these systems have demonstrated their effectiveness in air defense operations.

According to the Rheinmetall statement, “The order value is in the high double-digit million euro range and is being funded by Germany.” Earlier in February 2023, Rheinmetall was awarded a contract to supply 300,000 rounds of Gepard ammunition to Ukraine.

German defense firm Rheinmetall highlighted in the statement, “The ordered ammunition can be used to effectively re-fight various airborne targets, such as drones. It will be produced at Rheinmetall’s site in Unterlüß. Due to the increased demand for 35mm ammunition, the production line at the site was rebuilt at great expense in a very short time in the spring of 2023.”

The Flakpanzer Gepard, which means Cheetah in German, is an anti-aircraft, self-propelled, radar-guided air defense system designed to protect ground forces and critical infrastructure from aerial threats. German-made Gepard systems were built on the chassis of a Leopard 1 tank and it entered service in the 1970s.

The Gepard remains a highly capable short-range air defense (SHORAD) platform, even decades after its introduction, thanks to its robust design, reliable performance, and versatility. It is equipped with advanced fire-control radar and can detect, track, and engage targets in all weather conditions, providing rapid response to airborne threats. Its high rate of fire and mobility make it a versatile and reliable component of modern air defense systems, particularly for close-range engagements.

The low-altitude air defense system can be used to counter fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles. It is particularly effective in providing close-range protection for armored formations and critical infrastructure.

The Gepard has been used effectively by several nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Romania. In Ukraine, Gepard systems have proven their worth in defending against drones, low-flying missiles, and aerial attacks, highlighting their continued relevance in modern warfare.

Globally recognized as a leader in complex air defense solutions, Rheinmetall is the world’s foremost manufacturer of cannon-based air defense systems. In addition to the Gepard system, Rheinmetall has provided Ukraine with advanced air defense systems, including the state-of-the-art Skynex anti-aircraft system, which is designed for short-range defense and utilizes programmable AHEAD airburst ammunition. The system is particularly designed to wipe out drone swarms by firing 1,000 bullets a minute.

Germany has recently paced efforts to supply military equipment to Ukraine with Rheinmetall as the leading supplier of indirect fire technology. Rheinmetall is a vital strategic partner of Ukraine, supplying the embattled country with ammunition, combat vehicles, air defense systems, artillery shells, tanks, self-propelled howitzers, military trucks, and mobile field hospitals.

Last year in February, Rheinmetall signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Ukrainian partner company to open a new artillery ammunition plant in Ukraine. This would help Ukraine produce large quantities of 155mm caliber bullets as well as corresponding propelling charges.