Gerbera (drone)

Background

The Gerbera was first seen on the battlefield in late July 2024, initially used as a decoy to distract Ukrainian air defenses due to its visual similarity to the Shahed-136. By mid-2025, it was also employed for reconnaissance and strikes. Ukrainian intelligence reported that roughly half of the drones launched by Russia by November 2024 were Shahed-mimicking decoys such as the Gerbera, with about 75% of new drones produced at the Alabuga factory being unarmed decoys—a tactic Russia dubbed Operation False Target.

The drone is constructed from inexpensive materials: an internal plywood frame covered with polystyrene foam, with a cropped delta-wing shape similar to but smaller than the Shahed-136. It uses a pusher propeller driven by a Chinese-made internal combustion engine. Some Gerberas carry an explosive charge of up to 5 kg, significantly less than the Shahed's standard 50 kg warhead. The drone incorporates chips from Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics, U-Blox, and XLSEMI.

Development of the Gerbera is disputed: initial reporting from a Russian social media account claimed it was developed by the Russian company Gastello Design Bureau, while the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine asserts that the Chinese company Skywalker Technology is the real developer. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Skywalker Technology assembles drone kits and ships them to the Alabuga drone factory in Yelabuga, Russia, for final assembly. The Gerbera is not listed in Skywalker Technology's product catalog, suggesting a contract with the Russian Federation.

Did You Know?

• Ukrainian interceptor drones costing around $5,000 have been used to shoot down Gerberas, a fraction of the cost of air defense missiles.
• The Gerbera's range is estimated at 300 km without a combat payload, but Ukrainian intelligence lists a range of 600 km.