Russian forces fit extra fuel tanks to Gerbera drones, Flash says

Ukrainian military personnel have spotted Russian Gerbera drones fitted with additional fuel tanks. Such drones may be used for signals intelligence.

Source: Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defence minister and a radio technology specialist, on social media

Details: Ukrainian military have observed UAVs with additional tanks flying over Ukrainian territory and then returning to Russia.

The Gerbera drones do not have radio modems or cameras, allowing them to maintain a stable altitude and "not trigger the alarm". Flash said drones fitted with additional tanks could be used for signals intelligence.

Quote: "For now, this is only an assumption. If anyone shoots them down and finds wreckage, I ask them to examine it for the presence of additional equipment."

For reference: The Gerbera UAV is a multipurpose platform that Russian forces can use as a decoy, reconnaissance drone or attack UAV. It imitates the Shahed-136/Geran-2 drone and is used en masse by Russian forces to overload Ukrainian air defences.

The War&Sanctions portal reports that the drone has a wingspan of 2.5 metres and a maximum take-off weight of 18 kg. Gerbera has a stated speed of 160 km/h and a flight range of 600 km.

Background: It was reported earlier that in February, a Russian Gerbera drone was used for the first time as a carrier for an FPV drone. Russian Gerbera UAVs are also dropping FPV drones carrying warheads deep inside Ukrainian territory – more than 30 km from the border.

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