Western components found in Russian Gerbera UAV

18 November, 2024 Russian Gerbera drone. Autumn 2024. Photo credits: DIU

The investigations of the downed Gerbera drones revealed that Russians manufacture them using foreign components. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported on this. This UAV imitates the Shahed-136/Geran-2 and is massively used by Russians to overload Ukrainian air defense.

They are produced at a factory in the city of Yelabuga in Tatarstan. "The Gerbera drones are made of plywood and foam, so they are cheap. The DIU notes that they are ten times cheaper than Shahed-136/Geran-2 attack drones. In addition, it is noted that the Gerbera drones were multitasking: some modifications of these drones could be targeted like an FPV drone and used for aerial reconnaissance.

A Topotek KHY10S90 camera.

Photo credits: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

For this purpose they are equipped with a combat unit and a Chinese camera with a Topotek KHY10S90 gimbal system and a Xingkai Tech Mesh Network XK-F358 modem.

A Russian Gerbera drone. Fall 2024. Photo credits: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

The studies of the downed samples revealed that the Russians are manufacturing the Gerber drones based on a Chinese prototype using foreign components imported from China through third-party companies.

These include electronics made in China, the United States, or Europe. The UAV contains chips and other components manufactured by the following companies: Analog Devices and Texas Instruments (USA), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), STMicroelectronics, U-Blox (Switzerland), and XLSEMI (China).

The components used on the Gerbera decoy UAV. Fall 2024.

Photo credits: war sanctions

In particular, the chips manufactured by these companies are contained in the CRPA Antenna (Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna), as well as in the universal flight controller, which are installed on the Gerbera drones. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine states that the developer of the UAV is the Chinese model aircraft manufacturer Skywalker Technology Co., Ltd., which also produces fuselages and organizes deliveries of kits to Russia.

A DLE60 engine. Photo credits: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

The Gerbera UAV is powered by a DLE60 engine manufactured by the Chinese Mile Hao Xiang Technology Co, Ltd.

In the summer of 2024, this company was subject to US sanctions for supplying to Russia.