Russia deploys expanded Gerber-2 drone with 1,200-km range against Ukraine
Russia has begun using the enlarged Gerber-2 unmanned aerial vehicle against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian reporting. The drone features a 63-litre fuel tank, updated communications and video equipment, and sensors designed to detect interceptor drones. Its reported operational range of up to 1,200 km allows it to operate beyond Ukrainian territory.
Key points
- Russia has begun using the enlarged Gerber-2 drone against Ukraine.
- The Gerber-2 has an operational range of up to 1,200 km.
- Its new 63-litre fuel tank is divided into sections to preserve stability during manoeuvres.
- The drone has a 3-metre wingspan and a 2.6-metre fuselage.
- The examined model carried a 10 kg shrapnel-fuse incendiary warhead, OFЗБЧ-10, and separate bags of incendiary mixture.
- Its electronics include a 12-channel Kometa antenna, a Shenzhen Sinosun Technology Co. Ltd mesh modem and a Sausage video-processing unit based on a Chinese Coke Pi microcomputer.
- The examined drone had a dual IP camera for detecting interceptor drones; other versions use course-view IP cameras or cameras on three-axis gimbals.
Why it matters
The Gerber-2's expanded range allows it to operate beyond Ukraine's borders, extending the potential geographical reach of Russian strikes. Its newer fuel, communications, video-processing and counter-interceptor detection systems mark a substantial capability increase over earlier Gerber designs. The examined model was armed with a 10-kilogram incendiary warhead, while Russian claims describe a potential payload of up to 25 kilograms.
What happened
Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia has begun deploying the enlarged Gerber-2 against Ukraine. The drone has a wingspan of 3 metres, a fuselage length of 2.6 metres and a 63-litre fuel tank divided into internal sections to maintain stability during manoeuvres. The tank supports an operational range of up to 1,200 kilometres.
The examined specimen carried an OFЗБЧ-10 shrapnel-fuse incendiary warhead weighing 10 kilograms and separate bags containing an incendiary mixture. It also had a dual IP camera mounted above the fuel tank to help detect interceptor drones. Its electronic equipment included an updated flight controller, a 12-channel Kometa antenna, a mesh modem made by Shenzhen Sinosun Technology Co. Ltd and a Sausage video-processing unit based on a Chinese Coke Pi microcomputer. Ukrainian intelligence also identified versions fitted with course-view IP cameras or cameras on three-axis gimbals.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting emphasizes the operational threat posed by the Gerber-2's 1,200-kilometre range and ability to operate outside Ukraine. Detailed specifications are attributed to Ukrainian intelligence, while the coverage also focuses on the weapon and sensors found on the examined model, the use of Chinese and American components, and the recovery of an armed drone on Poland's Baltic coast.
Background
Earlier Gerber versions were inexpensive decoys intended to overload air defences, with Rozvidnyk and Kamikaze variants. Later models received Kometa antennas, mesh modems and gimbal-mounted cameras, bringing their equipment closer to that of more expensive Geran-type drones. An armed Gerber-2 was found on Poland's Baltic coast in mid-September, and debris probably belonging to a Gerber was reported in Moldova and Lithuania in September. The development of the new version was first reported by Ukrainian defence technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov in August 2026.