Flakpanzer Gepard
The Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard ("anti-aircraft-gun tank 'Cheetah'", better known as the Flakpanzer Gepard) is an all-weather-capable German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) based on the hull of the Leopard 1. It was developed in the 1960s, fielded in the 1970s, and has been upgraded several times with the latest electronics. It has been a cornerstone of the air defence of the German Army (Bundeswehr) and a number of other NATO countries.
| Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard | |
|---|---|
Gepard 1A2 of the German Army | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1976–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars |
|
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 47.5 t (46.7 long tons; 52.4 short tons) |
| Length | Overall: 7.68 m (25 ft 2 in) |
| Width | 3.71 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Height | Radar retracted: 3.29 m (10 ft 10 in) |
| Crew | 3 (driver, gunner, commander) |
| Armor | conventional steel |
Main armament | 2 × 35 mm Oerlikon GDF autocannon, each with 320 rounds anti-air ammunition and 20 rounds anti-tank |
Secondary armament | 2 × quad 76 mm smoke grenade dischargers |
| Engine | 10-cylinder, 37,400 cc (2,280 cu in) MTU multi-fuel engine 830 PS (819 hp, 610 kW) |
| Power/weight | 17.5 PS/t |
| Suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
Operational range | 550 km (340 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
In Germany, the Gepard was phased out in late 2010 and replaced by the Wiesel 2 Ozelot Leichtes Flugabwehrsystem (LeFlaSys) with four FIM-92 Stinger or LFK NG missile launchers. A variant with the MANTIS gun system and LFK NG missiles, based on the GTK Boxer, was also considered.
The Gepard has been widely used in combat in the Russo-Ukrainian War, mostly to shoot down drones.