2023-06-03 09:30:00
（ＣＮＮ） The vehicle carrying the news crew traverses unmarked roads and past new trails in remote woodlands.
“I’ll be there in a little while.” The driver nodded and pointed to a point on the map. It’s the location given to me by the Ukrainian military.
As we turned the corner, a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun “Gepard” appeared in front of us in the bushes.
Whenever Russia launches missile strikes or fills the skies with swarms of Iranian drones, air defense systems like Gepard play a life-or-death role.
Air defense systems are often targeted by Russia, so it is unusual for such coverage to be allowed.
“What you see in front of you is a Gepard 1A2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.” Mr. Oref, one of the operations team, told me.
“The turret is equipped with two Oerlikon 35 mm cannons. Each gun has a rate of fire of 550 rounds per minute, for a total of 1,100 rounds per minute.”
Mr. Oref is on the right. Ukrainian military says it can now destroy any type of Russian missile/Vasco Cotovio/CNN
The Gepard is one of 34 tanks donated by Germany to the Ukrainian government, with more already pledged. The system was first developed in the 1970s. It is an old weapon that was retired in Germany in 2010, but it is highly reliable and has become a game changer for Ukraine.
“This air defense system has a computer system that helps it automatically detect and acquire targets and destroy them as quickly as possible,” Olef said.
“The target is not just one, but maybe three or four. We need to destroy them one by one. For this reason, the computer system makes the operator’s job as easy as possible.” Mr. Oref)
Gepard means “cheetah” in German. Equipped with two 35mm cannons, each capable of firing 550 rounds per minute.
Oref’s forces have already destroyed four Shahed drones and two missiles.
“Russians like to say it’s impossible to shoot down their missiles, but with the technology that makes interception possible and the morale, proficiency and understanding of the mission of the team, nothing is impossible. “Enemy targets can be destroyed”
Thanks to donations from the West, Ukraine now has a multi-layered air defense system capable of striking short, medium and long range targets.
Among them, Gepard plays the role of the vanguard. France and Italy’s “SAMP/T”, Germany’s “IRIS-T”, and the United States’ “NASAMS” and “Patriot” are all kept secret and hidden from the public eye in order to avoid being targeted by the Russian military. Located in an undisclosed location.
The result of the strengthened air defense system is clearly seen in the fact that the damage from Russian missiles and drones has decreased.
The unit destroyed two Russian missiles and four Iranian-made ‘Shahed’ drones./Vasco Cotovio/CNN
“By bolstering our air defense systems with these highly effective weapons, we are increasing the effectiveness of our air defense systems in general, particularly once morest kinjars, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and attack drones. It’s the point where I got my hands on it.” Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, commander of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, said:
Lieutenant General Naev is the person who oversees Gepard. He points out that Ukrainian air defenses are so effective because they operate in combination with Gepard and other systems.
“The Ukrainian army has deployed the Gepard at appropriate intervals in the overall air defense scheme. Counting the number of enemy targets shot down yields tangible results.”
“The interception rate is constantly improving, and the current effectiveness is over 80%.”
Such success is unique, Naev said.
“This effectiveness is due to the support provided by our team, the personnel here, and our partners. We are grateful to our partners,” he said. protect the land of
dnipro attack
Still, some drones and missiles penetrate Ukraine’s air defenses.
In some cases, the damage is minimal, but in others, such as the attack on Dnipro, a city in central Ukraine, on May 26, 2011, the damage is devastating.
“The occupiers often use the S300 and S400 anti-aircraft guided missiles to attack frontline areas. will be A spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force explained following the attack.
“The use of this type of weapon once morest populated areas is downright terrorism.”
Additional equipment, ammunition and personnel training will be needed to prevent such an attack from penetrating Ukraine’s defenses, Nayev said.
“The protection of civilians and critical infrastructure depends on the equipment we receive and the training of our personnel,” Naev said.
“In order to improve the quantity and quality of our air defense systems, we will definitely need more of the latest models of equipment, ammunition and missiles to be used there, as the enemy tests our air defense systems almost every night. “
“We are consuming our own missiles and ammunition,” Nayef said.
Ukrainian army showing “Gepard”
Olef agrees, saying: “We are doing our job very effectively, but we will definitely need more weapons to drive the enemy out of our territory.”
Ukrainian adviser to the head of the president’s office, Podlyak, said the country was trying to get supplies needed by its soldiers and called on cooperating countries to provide additional weapons.
“President Zelensky, in cooperation with other heads of state, has built an almost complete system consisting of various missile defense equipment,” Podoljak said.
“But to keep the skies impregnable, especially once morest guided bombs and short-range ballistic missiles that reach in 1.5 minutes, you need F-16 fighters.”
“I have no doubt[the partners]will eventually give us the ability to close the skies, which would mean Russia would lose its trump card: the ability to terrorize Ukrainian civilians with air strikes. Become”
From defense to offense
As Ukraine turns from defense to offense and prepares to conduct an upcoming reversal offensive, air defenses like Gepard will also play an important role in protecting advancing forces.
“[Air defense systems]will be very important in terms of protection during the movement of the units responsible for the reversal offensive, as well as the creation of a suitable offensive force, and the air cover during the offensive,” said Naev. This is because it is expected that they will use all of their strength in order to reduce the combat potential of their offensive.”
“Our success on the battlefield and the liberation of Ukrainian territories depends on a high-quality air defense system.”
In some cases, air defense systems can also be used for offensive purposes.
“We can destroy the Su-25, Su-35, and Su-54 aircraft that the enemy is touting,” said Olef. “It can also deal with ground targets and armored vehicles.”
“We have other weapons. We can use shells that can hit light armored vehicles and armored vehicles,” Olef said.
Coverage of “Gepard” deployed in Ukraine
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