Ramping up Ukraine's air defenses with improved Gepards

Germany is one of the main weapons suppliers to Ukraine, particularly in the field of air defense. One of the most valuable systems provided to Ukrainians was the self-propelled Gepard units, which have now been exhausted. However, the Rheinmetall conglomerate has a plan to address this situation. Here is what they are planning.

The German Gepard units are very effective, but the 67 units delivered are all that was available. Additionally, Germany has delivered two out of the four ordered batteries of the Skynex system, a stationary setup transported by trucks.

Meanwhile, Ukraine needs mobile systems that can also fire while on the move. During the recent visit of the Chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Marcus Faber, to the newly opened Rheinmetall service center in Ukraine, some interesting details emerged.

One of these details is Rheinmetall Landsysteme's CEO Björn Bernhard's mention of the work to mount the Skyranger 35 system on a Leopard 1 tank chassis. The result would essentially be a Gepard 1.5, as the Skyranger system turret has already been mounted on the GTK Boxer wheeled transporter. Not long ago, Rheinmetall demonstrated the Skyranger 35 turret mounted on a Panzer 87 tank chassis (a variant of the Leopard 2 used by Switzerland).

In Ukraine's case, the optimal choice is the Skyranger 35 turret because it is the same caliber as the Gepards and can use the same ammunition, simplifying logistics.

The difference between the Gepard and the new Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 lies in the new 35 mm revolver cannon, which has a firing rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. In practice, one enhanced cannon has a firing rate similar to the two older ones used in the Gepards. Another aspect is the use of programmable ammunition.

This allows for a greater chance of hitting the target while simultaneously using less ammunition. Each round contains a projectile filled with several thousand tungsten balls, which detonate at a precisely determined distance, creating a cloud of shrapnel that effectively destroys the target.

The data for the projectile is loaded via induction coils located at the muzzle. One measures the speed of the fired projectile, while the other programs the timed fuse with a delay calculated by a ballistic computer. The computer considers not only the speed of the fired projectile but also data on the distance, altitude, or speed of the target gathered from radar or an electro-optical head with a laser rangefinder.

The result is a system that allows for cost-effective engagement of drones or cruise missiles at a distance of about 4 kilometers. A series of 1-4 programmable rounds costs at most a few thousand euros, rather than tens or hundreds of thousands, as is the case with missile engagements. The ammunition capacity in the land version is 252 rounds, and the complete Skyranger 35 system turret weighs about 5,100 kilograms.

Moreover, using the Leopard 1 tank chassis makes a lot of sense as it ensures unification with the Gepards based on the same chassis. Additionally, tracked vehicles handle difficult, muddy terrain much better than any wheeled chassis. This makes the Gepard 1.5 a significant enhancement to Ukraine's very short-range air defense.