The Gerbera is a low-cost Russian drone, documented in Ukraine since July 2024. Its main initial use was as a decoy: imitating the Shahed-136, called Geran-2 in Russia, to confuse and saturate Ukrainian air defenses during large-scale attacks.
The features and how it is built
It is built with lightweight materials such as plywood and polystyrene, to keep costs down. It has a similar wing configuration to that of the Shahed-136, which contributes to its use as a false target. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, it is assembled in Russia, in Yelabuga, with kits supplied by the Chinese Skywalker Technology. The cost is estimated at around 10 thousand dollars per specimen. The characteristics indicated by Ukrainian intelligence are these: length of approximately two meters, wingspan of 2.5 meters, maximum weight of 18 kilograms, speed of up to approximately 160 kilometers per hour. The range is up to 600 kilometers, but this is a maximum value that varies depending on the configuration and load.
The Gerbera drone is nothing new in Europe
In Europe this is nothing new. On 10 and 28 July 2025 two Gerberas entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. The second carried about two kilograms of explosives and, according to the Lithuanian armed forces, had most likely been diverted by Ukrainian air defenses. On September 10, 2025, during the invasion of Russian drones into Poland, the Lublin Regional Prosecutor’s Office identified several aircraft as Gerbera. Among these is the one found almost intact in Czosnówka, without an engine and without explosives. On February 6, 2026, a Gerbera was found in Moldova, in the village of Sofia, in the district of Drochia. According to the Moldovan police, he was not carrying explosives.
What could cause the drone to charge
The scenario described by El Mundo is based on confidential sources and has no public confirmation from the CIA or the Italian, French or Spanish governments. According to the Spanish newspaper, a merchant ship could carry several Gerberas, which are easier to launch than a Shahed or a Geran. From 200-300 kilometers from the coast the flight would take from an hour and a quarter to around two hours. The 4-5 kilogram charge indicated by El Mundo would not be enough to destroy a large structure. However, it could cause a fire, damage exposed equipment or temporarily close a port or airport.