Russia deploys Gerbera drone to carry FPV for first time, Ukrainian official says
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Russia has for the first time used the Gerbera as an FPV platform. (Photo: Serhii Flesh / Telegram)
Russia has used its Gerbera drone for the first time as a
platform to launch a first-person view (FPV) drone against Ukraine, a Ukrainian
defense adviser said.
Serhii Beskrestnov — a military radio technology expert and
adviser to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, known by the call sign Flash — said the
incident had been documented, though the drone itself was not recovered.
He said the Gerbera drone can be used either for
reconnaissance or strike missions.
“It’s unclear whether this tactic will be repeated, but
everyone should be informed,” Beskrestnov said.
In a separate development, Russia debuted its new Geran-5
strike drone against Ukraine in Jan. 2026. The unmanned aircraft carries a
90-kilogram (198-pound) warhead.
Beskrestnov said Russia is working on ways to launch the
drone from aircraft, including Su-25 jets, and may be planning to equip it with
R-73 air-to-air missiles.
Speaking on Jan. 13, the adviser — who also heads Ukraine’s
Center for Radio Technologies and specializes in electronic warfare and
communications — called the
Geran-5 “another attempt by the enemy to build a budget cruise missile.”
He said the drone’s top speed — between 500 and 600
kilometers per hour (310–370 mph) — makes it too fast for helicopters,
anti-drone systems, or mobile fire teams to intercept.
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