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Gerans hunter: Ukrainian drone learns to intercept Russian decoys

Gerans hunter: Ukrainian drone learns to intercept Russian decoys Photo: debris of intercepted Geran drone by air defense (Ukrainian Air Force)
Author: Oleh Velhan

The Ukrainian interceptor drone General Chereshnia AIR is now capable of intercepting Russian decoy drones known as Geran. The first successful interceptions have already been recorded, according to a post by the interceptor's manufacturer, General Chereshnia.

The company reminds that the Gerbera decoy drone is essentially a replica of the Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone, which Russian forces produce under the name Geran-2. Its primary purpose is to distract Ukrainian air defense systems.

However, in recent months, Russian forces have started using it as a strike or reconnaissance UAV. This shift occurred because of several design features that make the Gerbera less visible to radar and more maneuverable.

"This is why combating both Shaheds and Gerberas requires new approaches, mobile, targeted, and more cost-effective than air defense missiles. Our AIR drone effectively counters modern threats in resource-constrained conditions. Using expensive and limited air defense missiles to destroy mass-produced enemy UAVs is inefficient," the manufacturer stated.

Drone terror

Russian forces have turned their cheap copies of Iranian drones into weapons of terror, and such attacks have recently intensified. On the night of July 5–6 alone, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia were targeted, resulting in injuries, destruction, and fires caused by Russian strikes.

In both Kharkiv and Kherson, Russian forces struck rescue workers who were responding to the aftermath of previous attacks.

On the morning of July 6, Mykolaiv was also attacked by drones, while in Kremenchuk, a local military recruitment center was targeted.