The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) can now count on a significant replenishment of 35mm ammunition for the Gepard systems from Germany.
At the latest Ramstein-format meeting, held online on December 21, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that 200,000 rounds of this ammunition would be delivered to Ukraine within a short timeframe.
Read more: New Patriot Systems, the Gepard Ammo, Drone Funding, and Tank Maintenance Top the Latest Aid Package
While this quantity may seem substantial, it must be considered alongside the number of Gepard systems in Ukrainian service. Ukraine has received over 110 Gepard units, including the Dutch Cheetah variant, supplied via the United States from Jordan. The primary difference between these variants lies in their radar systems; however, the twin Oerlikon GDF 35mm cannons remain unchanged and are capable of firing up to 1,100 rounds per minute combined.
Each Gepard carries a standard ammunition load of 640 rounds of 35x228mm shells. Fully loading around 110 Gepard units would require approximately 70,000 rounds. This means that 200,000 rounds are enough for nearly three full reloads of all Ukraine’s Gepard systems.
At first glance, 200,000 rounds may seem insufficient. However, the German Gepard has demonstrated remarkable efficiency against Shahed drones. Ukrainian air defense operators have noted that it often takes just a few short bursts to bring down a target. Depending on flight path and altitude, engagement typically requires as few as 7–11 rounds.
Even if the average ammunition consumption rises to 20–30 rounds per target, a single full load would still be sufficient to down dozens of Shaheds per vehicle. Therefore, 200,000 rounds could account for thousands of destroyed drones.
Additionally, Gepards are also used against cruise missiles, which may require more ammunition per engagement. Furthermore, russia has recently increased the flight altitude of Shaheds to over 1.5 km, which could affect ammunition consumption. However, the Gepard is capable of engaging aerial targets at altitudes of up to 3 km.
It is worth recalling that the previous known contract for supplying ammunition to Ukraine’s Gepards was signed in January 2025. That deal covered 180,000 High-Explosive Incendiary-Tracer (HEI-T) rounds, produced by Rheinmetall at its Unterlüß plant in Lower Saxony since 2023. This production line was established after Switzerland refused to lift its neutrality restrictions on such ammunition.
Read more: Germany Updates Military Aid List for Ukraine: Gepard, Vector Drones, and Ammunition
