Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard (Flakpanzer)

History of the anti-aircraft gun tank Gepard (anti-aircraft tank)

The Flakpanzer Gepard is a self-propelled anti-aircraft tracked platform (SPAAG) shipped from West Germany during the Cold War, built on the existing and proven chassis of the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank (MBT). And served with mobile anti-aircraft artillery battalions in the West.

It is equipped with two 35mm autocannons in a movable turret and can fire a variety of air-explosive ammunition, including APHE (armor-piercing high-explosive) and HEI (high-explosive incendiary) rounds. The main purpose of the system was to counter low-flying ground attack vehicles and helicopters used by the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries.

The vehicle components of the Cheetah retain the same propulsion as the Leopard 1 and are operated by a crew of three consisting of the driver, commander and gunner. A separate power pack is also included to power the onboard tracking system.

Equipped with a full Fire Control System (FCS), full positioning and search radar capabilities, the turret can fire 550 rounds per minute and has a maximum effective range of approximately 3,500 meters (nearly 2.2 miles).

The German Armed Forces retired their last Gepard systems in 2010 to make room for a new, more modern solution based on the GTK Boxer utility wheeled vehicle. The Dutch version is equipped with a different radar system than the German version.

The armies of Brazil (ex-Germany), Jordan (ex-Netherlands) and Romania (ex-Germany) still use the Cheetah system. Belgium and Chile have joined Germany and the Netherlands in discontinuing the platform.

More than 500 copies were produced.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

640 x 35mm AA ammunition (320 rounds per gun).

40 x 35mm anti-tank ammunition (20 rounds per gun)

8 x 76mm smoke grenade

Changes