Gepard (Cheetah) German 35mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun

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Basic Information

Name

Gepard (Cheetah) German 35mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun

Designation

—

Alternate Designation

—

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)

Date of Introduction

1974

Description

The Gepard (Cheetah) German 35mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun entered service with the Bundeswehr in 1973 as the Flakpanzer-1 Gepard. A total of 420 of these vehicles were built for the German Army. Its role is to protect combat units, troops and key installations against air attacks.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon 2 x 35mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

Engine Diesel (830 hp)

Armor Steel

NBC Protection Yes

Max Speed 65.0 km/h

Range 600.0 km

Variants

German version Search radar: S band, 15 km range Tracking radar: Ku band, 15 km range Laser rangefinder

Netherland's version Search radar: X band, 15 km range Tracking radar: X/Ka band, 13 km range

System

Alternative Designations 5PFZ-B2L Upgrade variant known as FlakPz 1A2

Manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann

Chassis Leopard 1 tank chassis

Crew 3 ea

Targets Helicopters and Low-Flying Aircraft

Note #1 The vehicle is based on the hull of the Leopard 1 tank with a large fully rotating turret carrying the armament—a pair of 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons and the two radar dishes—a general search radar at the rear of the turret and the tracking radar, and a laser rangefinder, at the front between the guns.

Note #2 Since the eighties, Stinger teams have been accompanying the Gepard units to take advantage of their long-range scanning capacity. To combine this capacity in a single unit, a missile system upgrade that mounts the NATO ManPad Stinger surface-to-air missile (in twin packs) to the autocannons was developed. The system was tested by the German Bundeswehr but not bought due to budget restrictions and the fielding of the Ozelot Light Flak (leFla) System

Dimensions

Length, With Gun Forward 7.68 m

Length, Hull INA

Width 3.71 m

Height, with Radar Lowered 3.29 m

Height, With Radar Up 4.23 m

Weight 47.3 tons

Automotive

Engine Name MTU MB 838 Ca M500 Diesel

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 830 hp

Fuel Capacity 985 liters

Maximum Range 600 km

Maximum Speed 65 km/h

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 30 %

Vertical Step 1.15 m

Trench 3.0 m

Fording 1.2 m

Combined Operating Time 48 hrs

Main Weapon System

Caliber, Type 2 x 35mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

Turret The electrically driven turret is powered by a 40 kW generator driven by a 4-cylinder, 3.8 litre Mercedes-Benz OM 314 multi-fuel engine

Number of Barrels 2 ea

Rate of Fire 1,100 rds/min (550/barrel)

Ammunition Loader Twin Belt

Reload Time INA

Elevation -10 to +85 deg

Fire on the Move Yes (est)

Basic Load 680 ea

Main Weapon System Ammunition

Type Frangible APDS (FAPDS) for upgrades. On impact with the target surface, the penetrator breaks into several KE fragments. The round has Frag-HE effects with the higher velocity and flat trajectory of a sabot round.

Tactical AA range 3,500 m (self-destruct)

Tracer Range INA

Effective Altitude 3,100 m

Min Altitude 0 m

Self-Destruct 6-12 sec

Range 4,000 m

Tactical AA Range 3,500 m

Effective 3,500 m (est)

Self-Destruct Time 6-12 sec

Penetration 115mm at 1,000 m

Type APDS-T

Other Ammunition Type HEI

Radar Systems

Radar 1

Name INA

Type Search Radar

Location at the rear of the turret

Band S band

Maximum Range 15 km

Radar 2

Name INA

Type Tracking Radar

Location at the front between the guns

Band KU Band

Maximum Range 15 km

Fire Control

FC System EADS digital computer-based FCS

Sights With Magnification Stabilized video sights for -1A2 upgrade

Magnification INA

Field of View INA

Night Sights Thermal for -1A2 upgrade

IFF Yes, MSR-400

Navigation System Computerized

Laser Rangefinder ND Yag

Linked to Air Defense Net Yes

Radars INA

Name INA

Function Fire Control

Detection Range 15 km

Tracking Range 15 km

Frequency Band Ku

Search on the Move Yes

Other Fire Control GUNS USE AIR WATCHES AND FORWARD OBSERVERS AND ARE LINKED TO AD NETS

Protection

Armor Type Conventional steel

Hull Armor 10–70 mm RHAe

Turret Armor INA

Applique Armor INA

Explosive Reactive Armor INA

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade INA

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment INA

Image Sources

Notes https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/dotcms/dA/d90facadad54d3f220f17891d0ba062b/fileAsset/Gepard_%28C%2992a9.jpg; https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/3469099-switzerland-blocks-gepard-ammunition-supply-to-ukraine.html#google_vignette;

Details

Country of Origin Germany

Category Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns

Land > Air Defense > Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns

Classification

Domain

Ground

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

7.68 m

Width

3.71 m

Height

—

Weight

47300 kg

Operators (6)

Germany

Brazil

Chile

Jordan

Netherlands

Romania

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