The German arms manufacturing company Rheinmetall AG has transferred the production of 35mm air-burst munitions for Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to Germany. The decision came after Switzerland refused to sell such rounds to Ukraine because of its declared neutrality in the present crisis.
Since last year, Ukraine has extensively used German-provided Gepard cannons against low-flying Russian drones and missiles. The weapons are highly mobile and simple to operate, making them an important part of Ukraine’s multi-layered air defense network and allowing the country to reserve its more advanced surface-to-air missiles for higher-end threats.
The Gepards have been running out of ammunition because of Switzerland’s bans on exports and Germany having no stocks to give. Rheinmetall’s solution was to convert the existing 35mm ammunition from infantry fighting vehicles and adapt them into the fire control unit of the Gepard.
“Despite their excellent performance, the electronics and fire control technology of the aging antiaircraft tank — developed in the 1960s — proved to be a veritable black box. At the same time, the supply chain for the new ammunition had to be expanded in order to minimize as far as possible the Swiss value-added share,” Rheinmetall explained.
In a statement on Monday, Rheinmetall disclosed that the initial shipment of 35mm rounds is already on its way to Ukraine after the success of test-firing for modified ammunition last May. The company targets delivering 40,000 rounds by year-end and 300,000 rounds in all, with an equal split of armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles.
The delivery of new rounds for the Gepards comes at the right time for the Ukrainian military, which is engaged in a grueling and bloody counteroffensive in eastern and southern areas. Drones have become an increasingly pervasive threat on the front lines, with Russia ramping up domestic production and experts warning of larger-scale unmanned attacks on Ukrainian targets.
Though Ukraine’s air defense network has grown in size and sophistication over the last year, the stepped-up attacks by drones could represent a very steep challenge. The additional ammunition for the Gepards in 35mm caliber will keep these cannons firing at a high rate against Russian drones, freeing other air defense capabilities to deal with other threats.
As Rheinmetall pointed out, “For Ukraine, they play an essential part in the struggle to control its airspace. They are almost permanently in action, making ammunition consumption correspondingly high.” The German manufacturer will no doubt reinforce Ukraine’s capability to defend its skies against continuous Russian aggression by closing the gaps in the ammunition supply for these vital weapons.