Documents
Germany Legacy KNDS
Gepard
A Cold-War-era West German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built on a Leopard 1 chassis, mounting twin 35 mm radar-guided autocannons. Withdrawn German-stock vehicles were refurbished and sent to Ukraine from 2022, where they proved highly effective against low-flying drones and cruise missiles.
In service since 1976 · 4 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
6
km range
3,000
m altitude
15
km radar
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
German export-licensed
BAFA licensing with strict end-use review; approvals can be politically constrained.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 4 operators
In service since 1976. Status: legacy · ~420 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 6 km |
|---|---|
| Engagement altitude Maximum target altitude the system can reach. | 3,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 2x 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 35 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 640 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 47,500 kg |
|---|---|
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Siemens-Albis MPDR 12 search and tracking radar |
|---|---|
| Radar range Published detection range against a typical fighter-sized target. Higher sees first. | 15 km |
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
| Caliber Bore diameter the round is fired from. | 35 mm |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 420 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 4 |
Specifications compiled from public KNDS and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Raytheon (RTX) Phalanx CIWS (Mk 15) Frequently asked questions
What is the engagement range of the KNDS Gepard? +
The KNDS Gepard has a maximum engagement range of 6 km.
How much does the KNDS Gepard weigh? +
The KNDS Gepard has a combat weight of 47,500 kg.
How many crew does the KNDS Gepard require? +
The KNDS Gepard requires a crew of 3.
What is the main armament of the KNDS Gepard? +
The KNDS Gepard's primary weapon is the 2x 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons.
What is the KNDS Gepard used for? +
The KNDS Gepard is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the KNDS Gepard? +
The KNDS Gepard is operated by 4 countries.
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