As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, a surprising hero has emerged on the battlefield: the German-made Gepard anti-aircraft system. Once decommissioned and considered obsolete, the Gepard has proven to be a formidable asset in Ukraine’s defense against persistent Russian aerial threats.
Originally designed during the Cold War to protect mechanized units from Soviet air attacks, the Flakpanzer Gepard was retired from the German Bundeswehr in the late 2010s. However, the dynamics of modern warfare have breathed new life into this aging system. Ukrainian forces have found the Gepard to be exceptionally effective against the types of threats they now face—namely, low-flying drones and cruise missiles.
According to an internal report from the Bundeswehr obtained by Spiegel, Ukrainian troops have expressed high regard for the Gepard’s performance. One servicemember reportedly told German officials, “These are the most trusted, most effective, and most favored systems we have.” This sentiment underscores the Gepard’s reliability and effectiveness in the field, especially when compared to more modern systems that have faced challenges under combat conditions.
The Gepard is equipped with twin 35mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons, capable of firing a combined total of 1,100 rounds per minute. Its radar systems—a combination of S-band search radar and Ku-band tracking radar—allow for simultaneous detection and engagement of multiple targets. This makes it particularly adept at neutralizing small, fast-moving drones, which have become a staple in Russia’s aerial tactics.
In one documented instance, a Gepard unit near Odesa successfully intercepted ten Iranian-made Shahed drones in a single engagement. Another unit near Kyiv managed to shoot down a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, highlighting the system’s versatility against a range of aerial threats.
Germany has delivered 55 Gepard systems to Ukraine since 2022. To meet the heightened demand for ammunition, Rheinmetall reactivated its 35mm ammunition production line in Unterlüß, Germany, in early 2023. This move was both urgent and costly but deemed necessary to maintain a consistent supply chain amid the conflict’s rapid munitions consumption.
While the Gepard has exceeded expectations, other German systems have not fared as well. The Leopard 1A5 and Leopard 2A6 tanks have reportedly encountered technical difficulties under battlefield conditions. Even the modern IRIS-T air defense system, once praised, has faced criticism in the latest Bundeswehr evaluations.
One of the Gepard’s significant advantages is its cost-effectiveness. Utilizing autocannons instead of expensive missile systems allows for a lower cost per engagement. This is particularly important in a protracted conflict where managing defense costs is crucial. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) noted that gun systems like the Gepard are preferred over missiles where possible due to their lower cost and higher ammunition availability.
In addition to Germany’s contributions, the United States has purchased 60 Gepard systems from Jordan to supply to Ukraine. These systems, originally sold to Jordan by the Netherlands, are being transferred under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This international support underscores the Gepard’s recognized value in modern combat scenarios.
The Gepard’s resurgence on the Ukrainian battlefield serves as a testament to the adaptability and enduring relevance of well-designed military hardware. As Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty against persistent aerial threats, the once-retired Gepard has found a renewed purpose, proving that sometimes, older technology can offer the most reliable solutions in modern warfare.
