SEO Title: Gerbera Decoy Drones Enhanced with Warheads: A New Threat in the Ukraine Conflict
Subtitle: Exploring the Tactical Implications of Armed Decoy Drones in Modern Warfare
Introduction: In a concerning development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the introduction of Gerbera decoy drones armed with warheads marks a significant escalation in military strategy. Originally designed for diversion and reconnaissance, these drones are now capable of delivering lethal payloads, raising questions about their impact on both battlefield dynamics and civilian safety. This article delves into the capabilities of these advanced drones, examines their role in contemporary warfare, and analyzes the potential consequences for the Ukraine conflict and beyond.
Inside downed and suppressed Gerbera drones, deployed by russian forces against Ukraine, warheads were noticed for the first time since their introduction. The russian unmanned aerial vehicles, visually and design-wise similar to Shahed-136 loitering munitions, are made of foam plastic and had usually been used as unarmed false targets.
The findings were shared with the public by radio communication and EW specialist Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov. He noted that Gerbera could be equipped with warheads of various types weighing up to 5 kg (11 lbs) and attached a photo of a drone equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 2.5 kg. The explosive device was implanted in the nose of Gerbera.
War News Hub reminds that the alleged developers of this UAV, Gastello Design Bureau, had previously demonstrated the armed version of this drone and its application as a loitering munition in July 2024. The russian company also planned to add a camera and a communication system to the drone.
An unknown UAV, whose wreckage was found in Kiev and which appeared in the “Alabuga Polytechnic” video, turned out to be a certain “Gerbera” developed by the N. F. Gastello Design Bureau, equipped with a camera.As reported in a newly released video, the “Gerbera” can be used in… pic.twitter.com/XK8j7yZpYq— MD (@distant_earth83) July 28, 2024
According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, however, the real creator of Gerbera is Chinese Skywalker Technology, a company specializing in fixed-wing aircraft models and drones mostly for entertainment and hobby.
A simpler version of Gerbera, without these additions, can attack a stationary target similarly to iranian Shahed, that is, simply by knowing its coordinates. Another threat that should never be neglected is the possibility of self-destruct mechanisms installed to detonate the warheads after a certain delay, or by other triggers.
That is why self-studying Gerbera fragments by field engineers can be quite dangerous. Besides, given the low accuracy of primitive cheap electronics inside Gerbera, russian forces can purposefully use armed Gerberas to strike Ukrainian cities indiscriminately, with full understanding that for the psychological impact, inputting exact coordinates is unnecessary.
Practice shows that Gerbera also has other applications such as for reconnaissance or signal amplification as a repeater. Previously, these drones were recorded carrying cameras and modems with mesh network technology.