On the basis of neutrality, Switzerland rejected a German plan to re-export 35 mm howitzer ammunition used on the Gepard system to Ukraine.
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced yesterday that it had received two offers from Berlin for the transfer of Swiss-made munitions that Germany had supplied to Ukraine, including artillery shells. 35 mm for use on Gepard air defence systems and 12.7 mm machine gun ammo
“Both suggestions were rejected due to the neutrality and required clauses of Swiss military hardware law,” SECO stated.
Switzerland has banned Germany from shipping artillery ammunition to Ukraine for the second time. SECO also rejected a German plan to supply artillery ammunition used on Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine on April 25. The Gepard air defence system and the Marder armoured vehicle were both manufactured in Germany, however they employed Swiss-made 35 and 20 mm ammunition. Switzerland has imposed European Union (EU) sanctions in response to Russia’s military action in Ukraine, but maintains that its neutrality precludes the transfer of weaponry to regions. conflict. Switzerland frequently asks countries who purchase military equipment to ensure that the equipment is not arbitrarily re-exported to other countries.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht confirmed Wednesday that the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery system will be sent to Ukraine, signalling a significant shift in Berlin’s position. This is the first time Germany has agreed to give Ukraine with this type of weapon in response to Russia’s military campaign.
According to Swiss media, it is unclear what type of ammunition Germany supplied to Ukraine using the Gepard system.
The Leopard 1 main tank chassis is used by the Flakpanzer Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, which was designed in the 1960s and has been in service since the 1970s. In 2010, the German army rejected this model in favour of an armoured variant. Wiesel troop carrier armed with the FIM-92 Stinger or the LFK NG anti-aircraft missile.
Two Oerlikon GDF 35 mm automatic guns, each with 320 anti-aircraft rounds and 20 anti-tank rounds, and two clusters of four 76 mm smoke grenade launchers are stationed at the Gepard complex. The cannon has a crew of three, a top speed of 65 km/h, and a range of 550 kilometres.
