Gerbera (UAV)

Main article: Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone, UAV)

2025: Cheap multifunctional UAV

By June 2025, for more than 12 months, along with the "Geranium" of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, his less famous younger sister, "Gerber," has often been used. It is not only cheaper, but also a multifunctional device for all kinds of tasks.

The body of the drone is made of plywood, which greatly reduces the cost of the product. The aerodynamic scheme is the "flying wing."

Electronic equipment: the device has a satellite navigation module with several antennas, but easier in comparison with Gerania). It is also technically possible to control 3G and 4G signals (using an installed modem with a set of SIM cards) through a mobile network. If the Gerber camera is installed in certain conditions, it can be used to defeat moving targets - there have already been videos of the defeat of the Ukrainian Buk air defense system on the Web.

The power plant in the early versions was an internal combustion engine with a capacity of 7 hp, but subsequently it was replaced by a slightly more voluminous and powerful 7.4-horsepower engine (approximately like a lawn mower).

The warhead, according to some reports, is made in the form of a charge weighing up to 5 kg or a KZ-6 ammunition. At the same time, products are quite often used as false purposes, without equipping the warhead in principle.

In fact, Gerbers are conditionally cheap analogues of Geranaeus. They are often used precisely as false targets, sometimes even installing Luneberg lenses to deceive enemy radar operators.

The devices are used in one formation, and distinguishing "Gerbers" from "Geranei" in the air is not always visually easy. This forces the enemy to spend a limited supply of anti-aircraft missiles on "dummies," while "Gerani" go to targets.

The use of these relatively inexpensive products allows the RF Armed Forces to implement tactics noticeable during the last attacks on Ukraine - to ensure the mass of the launch and "discharge" Ukrainian air defense for false purposes.

In addition, Gerbers partly have a modular design and can be used not only as "tricks," but also in shock and reconnaissance versions. In this case, you can change their configuration depending on the task.

2024: Connection to the Ukrainian 4G network

At the end of July 2024, it became known that the Russian military began to use new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) called Gerbera. The peculiarity of these drones is that they are able to connect to the Ukrainian 4G network and transmit video to the operator.

According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Gerbera is the development of the OKB named after N.F. Gastello. The UAV is of the aircraft type and has a wingspan of about two meters. It is claimed that the drone can be used in kamikaze mode to destroy targets or in reconnaissance mode to collect information. In addition, Gerbera can act as a false target to divert the attention of enemy air defense systems.

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Фото: Twz.com

According to the TWZ resource, a copy of the Gerber drone, which allegedly fell in the Kyiv region, was equipped with two 3G/4G antennas, as well as a modem with a SIM card that provides the ability to connect to the Ukrainian mobile network. Thanks to this equipment, video communication with the control center is provided, at least in some areas of the drone flight. It is also claimed that the device is capable of covering a distance of "hundreds of kilometers."

In addition, it says that, in addition to using a camera for guidance, Gerber can be programmed to fly along a given route without the need for operator intervention and without a repeater. This allows the drone to act on its own. However, the camera in the nose can be used for visual reconnaissance, including for detecting additional targets when moving along a predetermined trajectory. Technical specifications of the new drone, such as speed and possible payload types, were not disclosed as of the end of July 2024.^[1]

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