Sky Shield: What makes Gepard systems unique and why they are valued on the front lines.

The Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft system has become a crucial component of Ukraine's air defense. Vadim Kodachigov, a former commander of a separate unit of the 36th Marine Brigade, stated that the ammunition used in the Gepard, HEI-T, is effective against low-speed targets.

However, considering that Russia has significantly increased the production of drones, the number of ammunition for the Gepard on the front lines should be tripled. He mentioned this during a broadcast on the "Kiev24" channel.

What is Gepard and what makes this system special

The Gepard is based on the chassis of the Leopard 1 tank and is equipped with two 35-millimeter Oerlikon KDA guns. The system can engage targets at distances ranging from 100 meters to 4 kilometers, and its radars can detect objects up to 15 kilometers away.

The technical specifications of the Gepard are impressive: the rate of fire is 550 rounds per minute from each gun, and the main ammunition load consists of 320 shells. The system requires a crew of three: a driver, a commander, and a gunner.

Germany has already delivered 55 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine from the Bundeswehr. The first units arrived in the summer of 2022 and demonstrated high effectiveness in air defense. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has ordered 180,000 rounds of ammunition for these systems from the German company Rheinmetall. However, the deliveries are scheduled for 2026, and this quantity is considered insufficient by experts.

Previously, "Telegraph" also reported on why Ukrainian paratroopers praise the L119 gun. It's not just about accuracy.