Germany provided Ukraine with a new military aid package that includes Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, according to the German government.
Within the last week, Germany delivered three German-made Flakpanzer Gepard anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine in addition to the 46 Gepards shipped earlier. The Gepards will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian air defense as Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system loom ahead of winter.
Ukraine uses Gepard self-propelled air defense systems to take down Russian kamikaze and reconnaissance drones. Gepards are widely considered the best self-propelled anti-aircraft guns in the world.
A Gerpard is an all-weather-capable pair of radar-guided 35-millimeter autocannons in a two-person turret mounted on a Leopard 1 tank chassis. It was developed in the 1960s, fielded in the 1970s, and upgraded several times with the latest electronics.
A Gepard has been a cornerstone of the air defense of the German Army and several other NATO countries. Ukraine relies on this weapon to counter Russian drone attacks on civilian and military infrastructure far from the frontlines.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces are intensively preparing for Russian strikes on critical civilian infrastructure. On 20 September, the representative of Ukraine’s intelligence, Andrii Yusov, warned that Russia plans attacks on the Ukrainian energy system and is reconnoitering energy facilities.
Last year, Russia launched a massive campaign of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy system to cut off millions of people in Ukraine from heating and electricity during the cold winter.
Germany continues its unwavering support for Ukraine. The latest military aid package includes Gepard self-propelled air defense systems and reconnaissance drones, such as 20 RQ-35 Heidrun (Ukraine received 80 Heidrun drones from Germany before) and Vector (Germany delivered 104 Vector drones before) uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Over the past week, Germany supplied Ukraine with one BEAVER bridge paver, three HX81 tractors with three semi-trailers, 13 border guard vehicles, and about 3,900 DM125 155-mm smoke artillery shells.
Last week, the German government announced another military aid package for Ukraine, which included all-terrain vehicles, satellite communications, and first aid kits.
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