Tampa, Fla.-based Global Military Products Inc. has been awarded a contract worth more than $118 million by the Pentagon to procure and supply Gepard 35mm anti-aircraft missile systems. These will be intended for deployment to defend Ukraine against the Russian aggressor.
Few weapons are as highly praised by Ukraine as the German Gepard system. Anti-aircraft tanks have proven themselves in shooting down drones, with which the Russians are increasingly attacking.
Why are the German Gepard systems a nightmare for the Russians?
The Flakpanzer Gepard is a self-propelled anti-aircraft system that stands out for its advanced technology and efficiency. This armored fighting vehicle was developed and produced by MaK (Maschinenbau Kiel) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in the 1970s for the German Army. It is built on the chassis of the Leopard 1 tank, introduced into the armament of the Bundeswehr in 1976.
One of the most interesting features of the Flakpanzer Gepard is its pair of 35mm Oerlikon KDA rotary cannons, capable of firing a salvo of up to 550 rounds per minute. So a total of 1,100 rounds/min and an ammo stock of 680 rounds as stated WP tech. This high degree of firepower allows the Cheetah to effectively destroy aerial targets at distances of up to 4 kilometers. In addition, the Cheetah is equipped with modern electronic systems and sensors that enable rapid detection, tracking and targeting of aerial targets.
It is equipped with two radars with a detection range of up to 15 km, the first of which is a target detection radar and the second, located on the front of the turret, is a fire control radar to which armament is attached.
Thanks to its powerful drive and high mobility, the Flakpanzer Gepard is able to move at speeds of up to 65 km/h on the road and 45 km/h off-road. This armored fighting vehicle is deployed worldwide and has proven its effectiveness and reliability during various military operations. It was modernized in the nineties.
But the Cheetah may face a shortage of ammunition
As we have already mentioned, the tanks are equipped with two anti-aircraft guns from the Swiss company Oerlikon. The Swiss government in Bern still maintains neutrality, refusing to export ammunition to countries involved in war conflicts.
Germany has been trying to convince Switzerland to grant an exemption, and Ukraine even formally requested one in the fall.
Negotiations between Germany and Norway took place last year. The Oslo-based armory would theoretically be able to produce ammunition similar to the Oerlikon. These negotiations lasted several months.
German soldiers have already tested prototypes that were produced by this Norwegian armory, but the evaluation of these tests is still pending. Information about this was published by a security portal pivotarea.eu.
A soldier brings ammunition to a Romanian Army Cheetah during a NATO-led combat firefight in Poland in 2021.
Foto:
U.S. ARMY
There was also another possibility. The German engineering concern Rheinmetall AG recently took over a large Spanish munitions factory where it could expand its production. However, 35 mm cartridges had not yet been produced at this factory, so the concern needed some time to prepare.
In theory, it was thought that production could start sometime in the summer of this year. Given the announcement of a large-scale order for new Cheetahs, it can be assumed that Germany has already successfully solved this problem.
Source: eurozpravy.cz
