Russia’s modern drones destroyed by 1970s German weapons

The war in Ukraine has entered a new phase as Russia has deployed Iranian-made kamikaze drones to strike at Ukrainian cities and military targets. These drones, known as Shahed-131 and Shahed-136, are capable of flying long distances and carrying explosive payloads. They have been used by Iran and its proxies in the Middle East, but this is the first time they have been seen in Europe.

However, the Ukrainian forces have found an effective way to counter these drones: using German anti-aircraft guns from the 1970s. The Flakpanzer Gepard, or Cheetah, is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun that was developed by West Germany during the Cold War. It is armed with two 35 mm Oerlikon autocannons that can fire up to 550 rounds per minute. The Gepard also has a sophisticated radar system that can track and engage multiple targets at once.

The Gepard was designed to protect NATO forces from Soviet aircraft and helicopters, but it has proven to be very useful against the Iranian drones as well. According to a Ukrainian colonel and his team of volunteers, they have shot down three drones with the Gepard in Kyiv, using old Red Army machine guns as backup. The colonel said that the drones are easy to spot and destroy, as they fly low and slow, and make a lot of noise.

The Ukrainian government has appealed to its western allies for more ammunition and missiles to keep repelling the drone attacks, as well as for long-range missiles to strike at the production sites of the drones in Russia, Iran and Syria. The document sent by Kyiv to the G7 governments in August revealed that the Iranian drones are filled with European components, and that Iran has diversified its production through the use of a Syrian factory and a potential site in Russia.

The document also suggested that the pause in the attacks that lasted from 17 November to 7 December was likely due to the adaptation of the drones to the Ukrainian winter, and that this may indicate that Russia is preparing for a major offensive. The document warned that the drones pose a serious threat to the security of Europe and the world, and urged the international community to take action.