Russia’s Gerbera decoy drone has Chinese origins

According to Defense Express, the Gerbera drone can function not only as a reconnaissance tool but also as a repeater due to its mesh modem capabilities, which is highly concerning for Ukraine.

It has long been known that Russia uses Chinese components in the production of drones, including the Shahed, and in its weapons systems more generally. However, it has now emerged that Russia’s collaboration with China extends to the development of custom-made Gerbera drones, which serve as decoys and, as recently revealed, as reconnaissance platforms.

This information comes from a study on the Gerbera's components published by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate.

The report indicates that China's Skywalker Technology, a company known for producing aircraft models and drones mainly for hobbyist and entertainment purposes, developed the Gerbera. Notably, Skywalker's product catalog does not list the Gerbera, suggesting it was a special development commissioned by Russia.

Ukraine's intelligence also reported that Skywalker Technology manufactures the drone’s fuselage and arranges for the supply of mesh modems to Russia via third parties, with the final assembly taking place at Alabuga's facilities. This explains the use of foam in the drone’s fuselage, an uncommon material for Russian-made drones, as well as the low assembly quality of the Gerbera.

The component list shows that the most expensive part of the Gerbera is the engine—a Chinese DLE60 from Mile Hao Xiang Technology, which costs between $430 and $550 on Chinese marketplaces. The electronics, by comparison, can be captured in a single photo and are valued at around $100 to $200.

However, if the Gerbera is modified to serve as a reconnaissance drone, its cost increases significantly. In particular, it is equipped with a stabilized camera from Topotek and a Mesh Network XK-F358 modem from Xingkay Tech. These two components alone add at least $8,500 to the drone’s overall price.

The use of a mesh modem is particularly noteworthy, as it enables the drones to exchange data with one another and act as repeaters within the network. This makes jamming these drones more difficult, as the dynamic chain relay requires interference with all drones in the network simultaneously.

Ukraine's intelligence also pointed out that the Gerbera can be fitted with a warhead and used as a barrage munition, a capability the enemy demonstrated during a drone showcase this past summer.