Switzerland blocked a German proposal to re-export 35 mm artillery shells used on the Gepard system to Ukraine on the grounds of neutrality.
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Switzerland (SECO) said yesterday that it had received two proposals from Berlin for the delivery of Swiss-made ammunition that Germany had received to Germany. Ukraineincluding 35 mm shells used on the Gepard air defense system and 12.7 mm machine gun shells.
“Both proposals were rejected because of the neutrality and mandatory provisions of the Swiss military hardware law,” SECO said.
Gepard air defense system while still in the service of the German army. Image: Defense Post.
This is the second time Switzerland has prevented Germany from exporting artillery shells to Ukraine. SECO on April 25 also rejected a German proposal to transfer artillery shells used on Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The Gepard air defense system and the Marder armored vehicle were made in Germany, but used Swiss-made 35 and 20 mm shells.
Switzerland has implemented sanctions of the European Union (EU) in response to the military campaign of Russia in Ukraine, but insists its neutrality does not allow the delivery of weapons to conflict zones. Switzerland often requires countries that buy military equipment to ensure that they do not arbitrarily re-export them to other countries.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht yesterday announced that delivery of self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery system Gepard for Ukraine, marking a major shift in Berlin’s policy. This is the first time Germany has agreed to provide this type of weapon to Ukraine in response to the Russian military campaign.
Swiss media reported that it is not clear what type of ammunition Germany sent to Ukraine with the Gepard system.
Flakpanzer Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun uses the Leopard 1 main tank chassis, developed in the 1960s and in service since the 1970s. The German army rejected this model in 2010 to switch to an armored variant. Wiesel troop carrier with FIM-92 Stinger or LFK NG anti-aircraft missile.
The Gepard complex is equipped with two Oerlikon GDF 35 mm automatic cannons, each with 320 anti-aircraft rounds and 20 anti-tank rounds, and two clusters of four 76 mm smoke grenade launchers. The cannon has a crew of three, can move at a maximum speed of 65 km/h, and has a range of 550 km.
Vu Anh (According to Reuters)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
