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Belgium transfers 15 Gepard anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine in new €1 Billion aid plan.
Belgium will deliver 15 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine, strengthening its ability to counter drones and low-altitude threats in high-volume attack scenarios. The transfer, part of a new €1 billion aid, reinforces the country's short-range air defense capacity where missile systems are costly or insufficient, directly improving battlefield resilience and protection of critical infrastructure.
The Gepard combines radar-guided targeting with twin 35 mm autocannons, enabling sustained, rapid-fire engagements against drones and cruise missiles at short range. Its return to active use highlights a broader shift toward layered air defense, where gun-based systems complement advanced missiles to provide cost-effective, continuous protection in modern warfare.
The Gepard integrates a fully automated fire control system, which automatically determines the correct lead angle and gun alignment, allowing crews to engage targets quickly and accurately without manual calculations. (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)
As reported by L'Écho on April 22, 2026, Belgium confirmed it will reacquire 15 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAGs) from OIP Land Systems and transfer them to Ukraine as part of a €1 billion military aid package approved in early April 2026. The anti-aircraft gun vehicles originate from Belgian Army inventories retired in the early 2000s, sold to Sabiex, and later incorporated into OIP Land Systems following its acquisition. These Gepards were manufactured in the 1970s by a German consortium and remained in storage for roughly 20 years before the current decision.
The Belgian state will purchase the systems from private inventory, indicating a budgetary transaction rather than a direct military transfer. No official figures have been released for acquisition cost, refurbishment expenditure, or delivery schedule. Refurbishment is to be conducted in Belgium prior to transfer to Ukraine, but the timeline has not been specified. The procurement structure was validated by the Minister of Defence Theo Francken, with a preference for reacquiring domestically held assets rather than sourcing from foreign inventories, as Germany did.
This approach reduces dependency on external suppliers and avoids delays associated with international procurement channels. The Gepard purchase is formally part of the April 2026 €1 billion aid envelope, but no detailed allocation has been made public for the Gepard component. There has been no parliamentary disclosure of unit price, refurbishment cost per vehicle, or delivery sequencing. The original operators of the Gepard included Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with later exports to Romania, Brazil, and Jordan in limited quantities. The SPAAG was phased out across NATO between the 2000s and 2010s as missile-based air defense systems replaced gun-based systems.
The current decision reflects a partial reversal driven by operational demand in Ukraine, but also indicates that these 60-year-old systems remain relevant to counter drones. Belgium originally received 55 Gepard systems between 1977 and 1980, all of which were gradually retired after 1994 due to budget constraints after the Cold War. These units were sold to Sabiex, a private firm specializing in surplus military equipment, which later became part of OIP’s Land Systems division. Today, around 38 Gepards remain in OIP inventory, which are stored alongside other armored vehicles in facilities near Tournai, Belgium.
The Gepards were not maintained in an active service condition during this period, implying the need for significant refurbishment before reuse, as the storage period of about two decades introduces uncertainty regarding the current condition of mechanical and electronic components. This acquisition highlights a model that has gone largely unnoticed, where private companies retain decommissioned military assets as long-term inventory for potential resale. The current reacquisition effectively converts these stored assets into active military equipment, but also highlights the absence of a standing reserve of such systems within active Belgian military structures.
OIP has operated as a subsidiary of Elbit Systems since 2003 and is structured around three main operational branches: OIP Sensor Systems, OIP Space Instruments, and OIP Land Systems, with the latter managing armored vehicle inventories. The land systems division, derived from Sabiex, holds an estimated stock of about 500 vehicles (one of the largest private arsenals in Europe), including Leopard 1 tanks, M113 carriers, and Gepard systems. Its business model is based on acquiring surplus equipment at low cost, storing it for extended periods, and refurbishing it for resale when demand emerges. In this transaction, OIP acts as the supplier, while the Belgian government is the buyer and intermediary before transfer to Ukraine.
As the company does not manufacture Gepard systems and does not produce key subsystems such as radar components, its role is limited to storage, mechanical refurbishment, and logistical preparation. This places OIP in a position as a broker and reactivation provider, as these inventories can be mobilized under government programs. The refurbishment process required for the Gepard systems involves a reactivation after approximately 20 years of storage, with expected work including engine overhaul, drivetrain servicing, and validation of fire control systems. A critical issue concerns the radar subsystem, which includes both search and tracking radars and depends on components not produced by OIP (furthermore, Belgium operated two main variants of the Gepard: the standard German configuration named B2, and a laser-enhanced version named B2LV).
Spare parts and technical support for these systems are likely sourced from German industry, creating a dependency that may affect timelines. There has been no confirmation of upgrades such as digital fire control integration or sensor modernization. The condition of radar electronics after long-term storage is a key variable in determining operational readiness. Comparable refurbishment programs for Leopard 1 tanks have taken several months per batch, suggesting similar durations for Gepard systems. The Gepard anti-aircraft gun is built on the Leopard 1 tank chassis and optimized for short-range air defense with two 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons.
Each gun fires about 550 rounds per minute, giving a combined rate of about 1,100 rounds per minute, with an effective engagement range of about 4 km. The Gepard also uses an S-band search radar with a detection range of about 15 km and a Ku-band tracking radar for fire control. Mobility is provided by an MB 838 CaM 500 diesel engine producing about 819 hp, allowing a maximum speed of 65 km/h and enabling repositioning between defensive positions. The Gepard was originally designed to counter Soviet low-altitude aircraft and attack helicopters such as the Mil Mi-24 Hind, but is now used against drones and cruise missiles.
Its radar allows engagement of small and fast-moving targets, including loitering munitions, while the combination of radar guidance and sustained fire provides an alternative to missile-based interception. This configuration is suited for high-frequency, low-cost engagement scenarios, frequently encountered in Ukraine. In Ukraine, the Gepard has been deployed since 2022 following initial deliveries of 52 units from Germany, followed by additional units sourced from Qatar and Jordan. Germany now considers a joint production of the Gepard with Ukraine, as the country became the largest operator of the system in active combat conditions.
The Gepard is used primarily for point defense of infrastructure such as energy facilities and urban areas, focusing on threats including Shahed-type drones and low-flying cruise missiles. Engagement patterns include sequential targeting of multiple drones, enabled by radar tracking and a high rate of fire. Ukrainian operators report a lower cost per interception compared to missile systems, particularly in high-volume attack scenarios, and this cost factor influences deployment decisions and resource allocation. Continued use depends on the availability of 35 mm ammunition and the maintenance of radar systems, as supply constraints have previously required adjustments in production sources.
The transfer of 15 additional units from Belgium represents a limited increase in Ukraine’s short-range air defense capacity, adding to an existing inventory already deployed in operational roles. These systems operate below higher-tier defenses such as the IRIS-T SLS and complement longer-range systems like the Patriot by addressing low-altitude threats. For now, the Gepard does not have a direct replacement, but systems such as the Leopard 2 Skyranger 35 and ASCV Skyranger 30 might represent a transition toward more integrated air defense combining guns, missiles, and modern sensors. Even if current procurement trends indicate a global move toward networked systems, the Belgian decision illustrates how self-propelled anti-aircraft guns such as the Gepard continue to fill key capability gaps under current operational conditions.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.