Gerbera: New Long-Range Russian Drone Intensifies Challenges for Ukrainian Air Defense
A new type of Russian drone is being used in combat in Ukraine, known as the Gerbera, as revealed by the Telegram channel @ASTRA. This long-range multirole drone is capable of conducting both attack and surveillance missions. Believed to be of Russian production, the Gerbera is seen as a complement to the Iranian-designed Shahed/Geran one-way attack drone and contributes to overwhelming Ukrainian defenses.
The first evidence of this new drone emerged during the week of July 22, 2024, when photos of an example apparently downed in the Kyiv region on July 24 were posted on Ukrainian social media. The drone in question reportedly did not have a warhead, indicating it was performing a mission other than an attack. This foam-bodied UAV has only recently been used by the Russians against Ukraine.
On July 28, the Russian unit Stalin’s Falcons released a video showing the Gerbera drone developed by the Gastello Design Bureau. According to this unit, the drone could be used for electronic reconnaissance, as a kamikaze drone, or as a decoy for air defense systems. Previously published photos show that a drone without a warhead was found in the Kyiv region on July 24, indicating it was performing a reconnaissance or other function.