Gepard Anti-aircraft Tank

The Gepard anti-aircraft gun tank (FlakPz Gepard) is a German-built autonomous, highly mobile, all-weather combat capable Flak tank that was developed and produced as early as the 1970s. For a long time, it formed a cornerstone of the Bundeswehr's air defence. The Gepard was developed to give the mobile tank and armoured infantry troops of the Bundeswehr protection against low-flying aircraft and attack helicopters in the tactical framework of the battle of the linked weapons. The choice of armament also took into account the engagement of heavily armoured combat helicopters such as the Mil Mi-24 "Hind", whose armour effectively provided protection against projectiles up to 23mm calibre. When engaging ground targets such as tanks or wheeled vehicles, detection and tracking was done visually via one of the commander's or gunner's periscopes. On the other hand, due to the relatively large calibre of the guns, above those of most infantry fighting vehicles, it could easily destroy lightly armoured vehicles such as infantry fighting vehicles, armoured transport vehicles or other anti-aircraft vehicles.