Ukrainian FPV Drone Downs Russian Gerbera UAV

25 October, 2024 The Russian Gerbera drone was found in the Kyiv region. July 2024. Photo: Serhii Flesh

A Ukrainian Defense Forces FPV drone operator shot down a Russian Gerbera drone. The video was posted on the War_home Telegram channel. This is the first publicly known case of a drone of this type being shot down by an FPV interceptor drone.

According to the channel's author, the downed UAV differs from the same type of Gerbera UAVs that are commonly used by Russians. The simplest version with no payload is usually used as a decoy target for air defense.

Such drones are equipped with cheap commercial GPS antennas and, sometimes, with modems for mobile Internet that use Ukrainian SIM cards.

Gerbera shot down by FPV. Photo credits: War_home

At the same time, the downed drone was equipped with a secure CRPA-type satellite antenna and a telemetry data transmission channel.

A Russian Gerbera drone. July, 2024.

Frame from the video by the Gastello Design Bureau

During the presentation of the Gerbera UAV, it was announced that it was available in three versions. For example, it can be used for electronic reconnaissance, as a kamikaze drone, or as a decoy for air defense.

FPV interceptors

As a reminder, the open-ended fundraising within the Drone Strike project by The Come Back Alive Foundation started on August 7. Its goal is to shoot down 1,000 enemy reconnaissance UAVs using modernized FPV interceptor drones.

The project involves not only the purchase of adapted FPV kamikazes, but also the creation and support of groups that will use them. In particular, this includes the transfer of pickups, communications, power, and night optics. As of October 25, 2024, the project has provided 16 units with everything they need to effectively hunt down enemy UAVs.

The total value of the transferred equipment is UAH 39,581,680. At the same time, the military used the equipment to shoot down 157 enemy reconnaissance drones of various types. At the same time, in addition to adapted FPV interceptors, specialized UAV interceptors are being actively developed to counter enemy drones.

It was reported that the development of this idea will take place in three stages: 1. Kamikaze quadcopters.

2. Airplane-type kamikaze drones.

3. Drills against loitering munitions of the Shahed type.

Interceptor drone by the Ukrainian company Besomar. September 2024.

Ukraine.

Frame from the Militarnyi's video