Ukraine Orders Additional 35mm Ammunition for Gepard Air Defense Guns

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply an additional 180,000 rounds of 35mm HEI-T ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun.

The order, valued in the high double-digit million euro range, was finalized in December 2024 and is being funded by the German government.

In February 2023, Rheinmetall had received a similar order for 300,000 rounds of Gepard ammunition for Ukraine. The newly ordered rounds are designed to counter airborne threats, including drones, and will be produced at the company’s facility in Unterlüß, Germany. To meet the growing demand, Rheinmetall rebuilt its production line at the site in early 2023.

Germany has supplied Ukraine with 55 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, decommissioned by the Bundeswehr, which have been in use for over two years. The Gepards have played a significant role in Ukraine’s air defense efforts.

Rheinmetall has also provided Ukraine with air defense systems such as Skynex, equipped with programmable AHEAD airburst ammunition.