The Flakpanzer Gepard is a tracked German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built around twin 35 mm automatic cannons, onboard search and tracking radars, and a Leopard 1-derived chassis. Germany later refurbished Gepards for Ukraine, where the system became a mobile short-range air defense and counter-UAV weapon against Shahed loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and other low-altitude threats.
Ukrainian forces operate German-supplied Gepards as mobile short-range air defense against Shahed loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and other low-flying threats; Germany's frozen April 17, 2025 aid list recorded 60 delivered Gepards with spare parts and 330,000 rounds of ammunition.
Role detailsGepard designations split between German Bundeswehr marks and export/local-service names, with Dutch PRTL/Cheetah vehicles differing mainly in their radar fit.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gepard 1 | Original German/Belgian production model | Weaponsystems.net describes Gepard 1 as the original serial-production model, with German and Belgian production batches before later updates. Sources: Gepard - Weaponsystems.net |
| Gepard 1A1 | Laser-rangefinder improvement | Weaponsystems.net identifies Gepard 1A1 as an improved model fitted with a laser rangefinder. Sources: Gepard - Weaponsystems.net |
| PRTL / Cheetah | Dutch-service variant | The Dutch PRTL, later known as Cheetah, used a distinct radar suite and can be recognized by its bar-shaped search radar. Sources: Gepard - Weaponsystems.net |
Gepard belongs to the same Oerlikon 35 mm air-defense lineage as the towed GDF family, which makes that gun line the closest internal comparison for its cannon and ammunition setup.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Towed twin 35 mm gun | Weaponsystems.net and KNDS both place Gepard and the GDF family in the same 35 mm Oerlikon cannon ecosystem, so the towed gun line is the cleanest comparison for Gepard's firepower and ammunition story. |
The Gepard entered Bundeswehr service in 1976 as the West German army's mobile gun-based air-defense vehicle.
Sources: Der Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard
Germany kept the Gepard in service until 2010 before moving the platform out of Bundeswehr use.
Sources: Der Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard
Germany's official military-aid list includes Gepard anti-aircraft gun tanks, spare parts, and ammunition delivered to Ukraine.
Sources: Military support for Ukraine
Rheinmetall said a contract for 300,000 rounds had been signed and that new production capacity was being created in Germany for Gepard ammunition.
Sources: Gepard ammunition on its way to Ukraine
Rheinmetall reported that a first lot of new 35 mm air-defense ammunition was headed to Ukraine under Germany's support effort.
Sources: Gepard ammunition on its way to Ukraine, Germany ships first batch of new Gepard ammo to Ukraine
A U.S. procurement covered 60 used Gepards from Jordan for Ukraine, underscoring how the platform was still being sourced for Ukraine's air defense.
Sources: US purchases 60 Gepard anti-aircraft guns from Jordan to send to Ukraine
Rheinmetall said Ukraine had ordered another 180,000 HEI-T rounds funded by Germany and noted that Germany had already handed over 55 Gepards.
Sources: Rheinmetall delivers 35mm-ammunition for anti-aircraft gun Gepard to Ukraine
Germany's final Ukraine military-aid overview listed 60 delivered Gepards with spare parts, 330,000 rounds delivered for the system, and 10 more Gepards in preparation.
Sources: Military support for Ukraine
Ukraine turned Gepard into more than a vehicle transfer story. The system also forced a 35 mm ammunition restart after Germany's own stocks had fallen away following Bundeswehr retirement.
| Date | Supply step | Operational meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-02 | Germany and Rheinmetall moved toward a 300,000-round order and new German production capacity for Gepard ammunition. | The contract path addressed the shortage of compatible rounds after the first vehicle transfers. |
| 2023-09 | Rheinmetall said the first lot of new 35 mm ammunition was on its way to Ukraine; Defense News reported a EUR 168 million value for the 300,000-round contract. | The published value gives an approximate EUR 560 per round baseline for that contract. |
| 2025-01 | Rheinmetall reported a separate 180,000-round HEI-T order funded by Germany. | Ukraine's Gepard fleet still needed dedicated ammunition procurement more than two years after the first deliveries. |
| 2025-04-17 | Germany's final aid overview listed 60 delivered Gepards, 330,000 delivered rounds, and 10 more Gepards in preparation. | The frozen official count shows Gepard had become a sustained air-defense supply line, not a one-time donation. |
Sources: Gepard ammunition on its way to Ukraine; Germany ships first batch of new Gepard ammo to Ukraine; Rheinmetall delivers 35mm-ammunition for anti-aircraft gun Gepard to Ukraine; Military support for Ukraine.
