Russian Gerbera drones take new role as drone carriers, ISW says
Russian Gerbera drones take on new and unusual role (photo: twitter.com/distant_earth83)
Russian forces have begun using Gerbera drones as carriers for small reconnaissance or strike unmanned aerial vehicles, an ISW report says.
Read also: Ukrainian Intelligence reveals components of Russia's Gerbera drone
It is noted that Russian forces are beginning to use Gerbera unmanned aerial vehicles as "motherships" to deliver strike or reconnaissance drones deep into Ukrainian rear areas.
Ukrainian forces were unable to locate the FPV drone that was delivered by a Gerbera, so it remains unclear whether the FPV drone was a strike or reconnaissance. Gerbera drones, which are a much cheaper version of the Shahed, can fly between 300 and 600 kilometers.
Thus, Russian forces are attempting to use the long flight range of the Gerbera to deliver smaller FPV drones deeper into the rear. Russian forces are also increasingly using mothership drones for reconnaissance, which enables precision strikes on Ukrainian training grounds, air defense systems, and missile launchers in the Ukrainian rear.
According to analysts, Ukrainian forces are unlikely to use air defense systems to shoot down these small FPV drones deep in the rear, which underscores Ukraine's need for interceptor drones and point air defense systems, as electronic warfare systems are likely insufficient to protect Ukrainian infrastructure from them.
What is known about Gerbera
The Russian Gerbera drone imitates the popular Shahed used by Russian forces. It is often used to overload Ukrainian air defense.
Gerbera can carry a warhead as a kamikaze drone and conduct electronic reconnaissance, in particular to detect air defense positions and record the impacts of other strike drones.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia assembles these drones at a factory in the city of Yelabuga. Such unmanned aerial vehicles can carry a warhead and conduct electronic reconnaissance, including detecting air defense positions and recording the impacts of other strike unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, even small Russian decoy drones of the Gerbera type pose a serious threat, as they can carry several kilograms of explosives onboard.
