Gerbera swarm drone: Russian video offers insight into new foam and plywood UAV

A crashed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of a new design was found in Kyiv Oblast a few days ago. A video released by Russia now provides further details on this previously unknown swarm drone. In it, the multifunctional UAV is called Gerbera (Гербера) (“the tanner”).

According to the Russian video, it is suitable for electronic reconnaissance, as a kamikaze drone or as a decoy target that deceives air defences.

The drone is built from foam and plywood and designed for cheap mass production. According to Ukrainian findings, it reaches up to 150 km/h and flies at an altitude of about 20 to 30 metres.

A modem with a SIM card and two 3/4G antennas were found in the wreck. They carry the video transmission through the Ukrainian mobile network to the operator.

What the Gerbera swarm drone is intended for

So far it is assumed that the drones are meant to locate Ukrainian air defence systems, above all the mobile groups that, equipped with numerous calibres, hunt Shahed drones every night.

Without a warhead, the range is said to be around 300 kilometres; with a warhead, it is estimated at under 100 kilometres.

As the Russian video shows, the drone can be remotely piloted manually, like a first-person view (FPV) drone. Relay drones known as “repeaters” are probably used, extending the range of the radio signal at low altitudes. The video also shows a swarm flight.

Ukraine suspects that the Gerbera, like the Geran-2 (Shahed), is produced in the “Alabuga” special economic zone in Tartastan.