Ukraine will receive additional 35-mm shells for the Gepard air defense systems from the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall in 2026.
According to a press release from the company, this order was placed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. "Kyiv ordered 180,000 HEI-T munitions - high-explosive incendiary rounds with a tracer element," the manufacturer stated.
The press service noted that the order's cost is "in the high double-digit million euro range," and it will be financed by Germany, where the munitions will be produced.
The munitions ordered by Ukraine can be used to target various aerial threats, including drones.
Transfer of Gepard to Ukraine
Germany has delivered 55 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine. The first of these arrived in the summer of 2022. These tanks have proven effective in Ukraine's air defense.
Last summer, Rheinmetall announced plans to open four military factories in Ukraine, and in October, Rheinmetall's director Armin Papperger reported the opening of the first factory.
In November, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that a second Rheinmetall factory would soon commence operations in Ukraine.
Note from UNIAN: The Gepard is a self-propelled anti-aircraft system designed to protect ground troops and engage aerial targets. It can fire at a rate of up to one thousand rounds per minute.