In the downed and suppressed Russian drones known as "Gerbera," which are made from foam and used as decoys, combat components have begun to be discovered.
Expert Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov issued a warning indicating that the drone may be equipped with combat components of various types weighing up to 5 kg. He also shared a photo of a "Gerbera" that contains a fragmentation-explosive warhead weighing 2.5 kg, which is installed in the front section of the UAV.
It is worth noting that the developers of this UAV showcased its potential for combat outfitting and use as a loitering munition during its demonstration in July. Additionally, there were plans to equip the drone with a camera and communication system.
In a simpler version, the "Gerbera" can attack targets similarly to the "Shahed," meaning it can strike based solely on pre-programmed coordinates. Moreover, one should not overlook the threat that the enemy could equip the warheads with fuses for self-destruction after a certain period or triggered by other conditions.
This is why independently examining the remnants of a "Gerbera" can be quite dangerous. Considering the low accuracy, simplicity, and affordability of the electronic component base, the enemy may deliberately employ such "Gerberas" to strike urban areas, understanding that precise coordinates are irrelevant in this case.
It is important to remember that the emergence of "Gerberas" is credited to the Chinese company Skywalker Technology, which develops aircraft models and airplane-type drones primarily for entertainment and hobby purposes. Additionally, it's worth recalling that the "Gerbera" can also be used as a reconnaissance UAV and relay, with documented instances of this UAV being equipped with cameras and modems utilizing mesh network technology.