Belgium to Buy 15 Gepard Anti-Aircraft Guns for Ukraine

Belgium will purchase 15 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns for further transfer to Ukraine. The measure will be implemented under a military aid plan worth €1 billion, approved in early April.

La Libre reported this, citing L’Echo, which submitted a request to the office of Defense Minister Theo Francken.

The equipment will be purchased from the private company OIP, a subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems. Before delivery to Ukraine, the Belgian company will fully refurbish all systems.

They were previously in service with the Belgian army but were decommissioned in the 2000s. The armored vehicles were later purchased by Sabiex, which OIP later acquired.

Officials have not disclosed the exact cost of the purchase and refurbishment. In total, the Belgian armed forces previously operated 54 such anti-aircraft systems.

In September 2025, then-Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, during a meeting with KNDS Deutschland Executive Director Ralf Ketzel, discussed the implementation of agreements on the supply, technical support, and joint production of Gepard anti-aircraft guns.

The parties focused on launching a joint venture that KNDS is creating in partnership with a major Ukrainian manufacturer.