Successful use in the video: German "Gepard" shoots down a Russian missile

So far, 30 "cheetahs" from Germany have been deployed in the Ukraine.

Successful use in the video: German "Gepard" shoots down a Russian missile

So far, 30 "cheetahs" from Germany have been deployed in the Ukraine. The anti-aircraft tanks are obviously doing valuable work. A video shows the successful launch of a Russian cruise missile. However, the strength of the German weapon system lies elsewhere.

The German anti-aircraft tanks of the "Gepard" type are apparently providing valuable services in Ukraine. A video is currently circulating on social networks such as Telegram and Twitter, which is said to show a "cheetah" successfully launching a Russian cruise missile.

In the recording, which lasts about 24 seconds, the German anti-aircraft tank stands on a wintry field. It fires two bursts of fire into the air in just two seconds. After the second burst of fire, a large ball of fire lights up in the sky to the cheers of Ukrainian soldiers who appear to be recording the operation. Then the burning fragments of the Russian rocket fall to earth.

"Equipment provided by partners protects the Ukrainian skies from the terrorists' cruise missiles," a Ukrainian Facebook channel said. "An impeccable work by the German 'Gepard'. Thank you Germany."

ntv's verification team cannot definitively clarify when and where the video was recorded, but they confirm its authenticity. So the recording is a few days old at most.

Ukraine has received 30 "cheetahs" from Germany so far. The 48-ton anti-aircraft tanks are actually designed to defend against low-flying attackers such as attack helicopters or fighter jets. However, with their radar-controlled twin 35-millimeter automatic cannons, they can also hit air targets that are up to 4000 meters away and have a speed of up to 400 meters per second. That corresponds to 1440 kilometers per hour.

According to the Ukrainian military, the "cheetahs" are rather unsuitable for shooting down ballistic missiles or Russian cruise missiles. According to an evaluation from the end of November, this has only happened twice. But the German tanks prove themselves in defending against Iranian kamikaze drones. With their 35-millimeter cannons, they are said to have already brought down a double-digit number of unmanned flying objects from the sky. These have been used by Russia in recent weeks, primarily in attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to the armed forces, the tanks are also used to secure offensive operations by Ukrainian ground forces.

In order to be able to fight more effectively, the Ukrainian military had recently expressed the wish for more "cheetahs". As the "Spiegel" reported on Friday, Germany wants to provide seven more weapon systems in the spring. It is said to be the last models from industry stocks. The anti-aircraft tanks, which were actually intended for scrapping, are currently being repaired by the Munich armaments company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), it said.

According to "Spiegel", the federal government hopes that further ammunition can then also be supplied. Because with the first 30 "Gepard" only about 60,000 shots could be made available. In view of the high rate of fire of up to 1000 rounds per minute, the experts had criticized this as far too little.

Switzerland, where a manufacturer of the ammunition is located, had forbidden Germany to pass it on to Ukraine, citing its neutrality. The federal government then looked for alternatives.