The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has released information about the components of Russia's Gerbera-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The War&Sanctions portal has published an interactive 3D model, along with information about the components and electronic systems of the Gerbera-2 UAV.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian forces have significantly upgraded the Gerbera drones, which were originally developed as decoys to overwhelm air defence systems. The first versions included reconnaissance and kamikaze variants but remained relatively simple and inexpensive aircraft. Over time, their onboard equipment began to resemble that of the considerably more expensive Geran-type UAVs, incorporating Kometa satellite navigation systems, mesh modems and costly gimbal-mounted cameras.
Recently, Russian forces began deploying an enlarged version of the Gerbera. The new model has a wingspan of 3 metres and a fuselage length of 2.6 metres. Thanks to a new 63-litre fuel tank, the drone can travel up to 1,200 kilometres. To maintain stability during manoeuvres, the fuel tank is divided internally into separate compartments. The two-cylinder, two-stroke engine is essentially half of the engine used in the Geran-2 drone, production of which has been localised in Alabuga.
The examined drone was equipped with a 10 kg OFZBCh-10 high-explosive fragmentation incendiary warhead and separate bags containing an incendiary mixture.
According to Russian specifications, the UAV can carry a warhead weighing up to 25 kg.
The Gerbera-2's electronic systems include an upgraded flight controller, a 12-channel Kometa satellite navigation system, a mesh modem manufactured by China's Shenzhen Sinosun Technology Co., Ltd, and a new video processing unit called Sosiska, built around a Chinese Coke Pi microcomputer.
The examined drone was equipped with a dual IP camera mounted on the fuselage above the fuel tank, designed to detect interceptor drones. Investigators also identified versions fitted with forward-facing IP cameras and cameras mounted on three-axis gimbals. Most of the identified components in the upgraded Gerbera were manufactured by Chinese companies (eight components) and American companies (four components).
The increased operational range provided by the larger fuel tank suggests that the drone could be deployed beyond Ukraine.
It was a Gerbera-2 equipped with a warhead that was discovered on Poland's Baltic coast in mid-September.
