Vilnius: The drone that was shot down is a ‘Gerbera’. All the specifications of the aircraft developed in Russia
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda: aircraft of this type are often used as decoys, but they can also carry explosives
The drone shot down in Lithuania during the night between Monday and Tuesday by two Italian Eurofighter F-2000 fighter jets operating under the NATO umbrella was of a type used by Russia and was most likely destined for Ukraine. This was explained by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, as reported by Reuters online. “It was a Gerbera drone,” Gitanas Nauseda told journalists, referring to a long-range aerial drone used by Russia: aircraft of this type are often used as decoys, but can also carry explosives. “It was most likely not a deliberate action against Lithuania. The drone was probably heading for Ukraine, but was hit by Ukrainian electronic warfare and veered off course,” he added. The Lithuanian army is analysing the drone’s electronics to determine its target, Mr Nauseda said.
Multi-purpose drone developed in Russia
The Gerbera is a multi-purpose drone developed in Russia (mainly manufactured at the Yelabuga/Alabuga plant) and deployed in the conflict in Ukraine from mid-2024 onwards. It is commonly described as a cheaper, lighter and simplified version of the better-known Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones (renamed Geran-2 in Russia). Although the exact number of Gerberas deployed against Ukraine is difficult to determine, their introduction has significantly increased the volume of drones launched by Moscow.
Low-cost aircraft, economical to mass-produce
It is a low-cost aircraft (estimated at around $10,000 per unit), designed to be extremely economical to mass-produce. The airframe consists of an internal plywood framework covered with polystyrene (expanded foam) panels. This construction significantly reduces the overall weight and radar signature. In terms of dimensions, it has a wingspan of approximately 2.5 metres and a length of approximately 2 metres.
