Germany restarting production of SMART 155's due to how well they work in Ukraine. Downside is production will take 5 years to restart. Plans to buy 10,000 more @ 81,000 euros a shot. 

https://www.technology.org/2022/10/28/germany-to-resume-production-of-smart-155-projectiles-following-an-exceptional-performance-in-ukraine/

In related Germany news as pertains to rearming post Ukraine:

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/berlin-lags-defence-purchases-after-100-billion-euro-pledge-sources-2022-10-27/

Italy providing arms:

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3604150-italy-provides-ukraine-with-two-m270-systems-six-pzh-2000-about-30-selfpropelled-howitzers-media.html

Interesting analysis of the cost for Italy to develop a land army vs air and sea army:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1587127120983195652.html

German article on the Gephard in Ukraine, and how it has proven very effective against drones. Also shows the ammo used.

https://archive.ph/yI3eC

gatnerd said:

Also shows the ammo used.

That is conventional HEI with impact fuse.

I wonder if that’s being pressed into service due to a shortage of the standard load ( was it a frangible AP?)

gatnerd said:

I wonder if that’s being pressed into service due to a shortage of the standard load ( was it a frangible AP?)

The original AA load has been HEI. This was changed later, late '90, to FAPDS. The idea has been to increase the hit propability while keeping the effect of a hit at a comparable or even better level. Hit propability against fast and evading targets that is.
Since drones are rather slow, do not evade like a manned attack aircraft and are unprotected unlike attack helicopters or fixed wing attack aircraft. HEI might even be the preferrable choice.

But my educated guess is they use what they can get. So supply most likely will play a role.

schnuersi said:

The original AA load has been HEI. This was changed later, late '90, to FAPDS. The idea has been to increase the hit propability while keeping the effect of a hit at a comparable or even better level. Hit propability against fast and evading targets that is. Since drones are rather slow, do not evade like a manned attack aircraft and are unprotected unlike attack helicopters or fixed wing attack aircraft. HEI might even be the preferrable choice.

Are the gun muzzles fitted with the fuze-setter for using AHEAD?

autogun said:

AHEAD

That seems like it would have been the optimal load / a hell of an advertisement for the concept. 

autogun said:

Are the gun muzzles fitted with the fuze-setter for using AHEAD?

It does not appear that they are.

autogun said:

Are the gun muzzles fitted with the fuze-setter for using AHEAD?

Highly unlikely. The Gepards have not been until their phase out of service in the German Army. To my knowledge they are unmodified.