Russia upgrades Gerbera drones for electronic intelligence

The Russian military has modified its Gerbera fixed-wing drones to perform low-cost electronic intelligence and spectrum analysis over Ukrainian airspace. According to military expert Serhii Beskrestnov, these modifications involve wiring miniature, commercially available TinySA Ultra spectrum analyzers—costing approximately $100—directly into the drone’s electronics via an open port on the onboard mesh modem.

This upgrade allows the drones to log radio-frequency activity, map electromagnetic saturation, and detect active radars, communication systems, and electronic-warfare equipment during flight. Because the components are inexpensive and easy to integrate, the financial and operational risks of losing drones during missions are minimized. Over time, fragmented signal logs from multiple drones can be combined to create a comprehensive picture of the regional electromagnetic environment.

The Gerbera drone, constructed primarily from plywood and foam, is used for decoy, reconnaissance, and limited strike roles. While basic configurations are estimated to cost as little as $2,000, more advanced versions equipped with specialized mission hardware, such as cameras and mesh modems, can reach values of $10,000 or more.