Rheinmetall to send Ukraine ammunition for downing Russian drones

New anti-aircraft ammunition for Gepard self-propelled guns, which are crucial for shooting down Russian drones, should be handed over to the advanced units of Ukrainian forces "in the near future," according to Bild.

What is the problem?

Due to the consistent shortage of ammunition, the Ukrainian military usually fires only five shells, although the Gepard guns can fire up to 20 in one sitting.

What is the solution?

To address the acute shortage of ammunition, Rheinmetall installed a new production line at its plant in Unterluss (Lower Saxony) in a few months – something that usually takes years.

Rheinmetall will supply 300,000 shells to Gepard systems, 40,000 of which will be delivered this year.

How does it work?

Germany had a shortage of stocks of this ammunition, as Gepard dates back to the 1980s, and there was no documentation left to manage it.

Therefore, engineers converted the existing 35mm ammunition intended for the onboard armament of infantry fighting vehicles to be used in anti-aircraft installations.

These products save lives. Every drone shot down is important for the people of Kyiv and other cities who fear new attacks every day, said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.

Earlier, Germany reported on a batch of military aid delivered to Ukraine, including six Gepard systems, 3,230 155 mm shells, and more. Before that, Germany, in cooperation with the US, intends to transfer 45 more Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine by the end of the year to strengthen its air defense.