Gepard is the best system against Russian UAVs: experts named the main reason (video)

The complex combines high firepower, mobility and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, despite the venerable age of the “Gepard”, the demand for it remains high.

The Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun continues to be actively used by the Ukrainian troops to protect critical facilities from drone attacks and low-flying targets. The system can be called a veteran of air defense, but despite its venerable age, it has proven to be one of the most effective short-range air defense systems in the ranks of the Defense Forces. The main advantages of the Ukrainian “Gepards” were told by the Army Recognition observers.

Developed back in the 1960s, this Gepard anti-aircraft complex proved to be the most effective means of countering UAVs thanks to its powerful radar complex, high rate of fire of 35-mm guns, and mobility, which allows for quick changes of position.

The main advantages of the complex Gepard

The Gepard's key advantage is its radar system, which includes an S-band search radar with a range of up to 15 km and a Ku-band tracking radar for precise targeting. These systems allow the Gepard to detect and track even low-visibility, fast-moving targets, making it indispensable against Shahed-136 drones.

The system is armed with two 35 mm Oerlikon KDA automatic cannons, each with a rate of fire of 550 rounds per minute. This gives a total of 1100 rounds per minute, creating a dense, blocking fire field capable of effectively shooting down even a swarm of drones.

The ammunition used includes:

• armor-piercing high-explosive shells (APHE),
• programmable detonation shells that can hit drones in the air,
• high-explosive fragmentation shells with high initial velocity.

The chassis based on the Leopard 1 provides Gepard with high mobility, which allows it to quickly change positions and avoid retaliatory strikes. The system develops a speed of up to 65 km/h and has a tracked ride, which simplifies its deployment in difficult weather conditions.

Thanks to this mobility, Gepard is widely used to protect Ukrainian energy infrastructure, covering power plants and other strategic facilities.

Economic efficiency — another factor explaining the popularity of Gepard. Unlike expensive anti-aircraft missile systems, it can shoot down drones with less expensive ammunition, which makes it a cost-effective air defense system. This was also emphasized by Yuriy Ignat, a representative of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukrainian sources confirm that the Gepard has repeatedly shot down “Shahedi” and even Russian cruise missiles. For example, in November 2024, the system destroyed ten drones in a row near Odessa, which confirmed its ability to engage multiple targets.

Finally, observers emphasized that despite the age of the system, demand for it remains high. However, the main limitation remains the shortage of 35-mm ammunition, since production in Europe previously depended on Switzerland, which refused to supply them. But Germany solved this problem by awarding the contract to Rheinmetall, which launched the production of new shells.