Ukraine Reveals Specs for Russian Gerbera-2 Drone With 1,200 km Range
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine published detailed technical data and a 3D model of the upgraded UAV, noting its expanded reach and reliance on Chinese components.
By Julia Novak ·
Residents in eastern Europe face a wider threat radius as Ukrainian intelligence disclosed that the Russian Gerbera-2 drone can now travel up to 1,200 kilometers. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine released these specifications on its War&Sanctions portal, detailing a weapon system that has evolved from a cheap decoy into a long-range strike vehicle.
The Gerbera-2 features a wingspan of three meters and a fuselage length of 2.6 meters. A new 63-liter fuel tank enables the extended range, with internal compartments designed to maintain stability during maneuvers. The drone is powered by a two-cylinder, two-stroke engine that is half the size of the unit used in the Geran-2, which Russia has produced locally in Alabuga.
Ukrainian analysts noted that the original Gerbera drones were inexpensive targets intended to saturate air defense systems. Early versions served as reconnaissance or kamikaze platforms, but their equipment increasingly mimicked that of costlier Geran-type unmanned aerial vehicles. The updated model includes Kometa navigation systems, mesh modems, and high-cost gimbal-mounted cameras.
The specific specimen examined by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine carried a 10-kilogram OFZBCh-10 high-explosive fragmentation incendiary warhead, along with separate bags of incendiary mixture. Russian specifications claim the Gerbera-2 can carry a payload of up to 25 kilograms. The drone's electronics include an upgraded flight controller, a 12-channel Kometa system, and a Sosiska video processing unit built on a Chinese Coke Pi microcomputer.
Supply chains for the Gerbera-2 rely heavily on foreign components. The Ukrainian agency counted eight components from China and four from the United States, more than any other countries. A Shenzhen Sinosun Technology Co., Ltd mesh modem is also part of the system. Some variants feature dual IP cameras mounted above the fuel tank to detect interceptor drones, while others have forward-facing cameras or three-axis gimbals.
The extended operational range suggests the drone may be deployed beyond Ukrainian borders. A Gerbera-2 fitted with a warhead washed up on Poland's Baltic coast in mid-September. In May, Ukrainian P1-SUN interceptor drones produced by SkyFall recorded video of Russian Gerbera drones being used as carriers for first-person view drones before being destroyed.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine published an interactive 3D model of the drone alongside its component list. The release provides a detailed look at the electronic component base and mechanical structure of the upgraded weapon system.
