russian sources have published a video showing a modified version of the Gerbera decoy UAV being used in a strike attempt against Ukrainian Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system. This marks the first documented case of the Gerbera drone being equipped with a warhead and used for a direct attack rather than purely for radar decoy purposes.
The footage shows the drone flying at low altitude and detonating near the moving Buk-M1 system. According to military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko, the Gerbera done was likely equipped with an optical seeker and a small explosive charge. While the system did not suffer a direct hit, and appeared to continue moving post-detonation, the event highlights a shift in how this type of UAV may be used.
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Previously, the Gerbera UAVs had been deployed in coordination with Shahed-136 drones to overload Ukrainian air defense with radar targets. Their construction from lightweight, inexpensive materials like foam and wood made them suitable for this purpose. The addition of even a limited strike capability suggests an attempt to expand their tactical use, though the drone’s light payload limits its destructive potential.
Oleksandr Kovalenko noted that while the Buk-M1 system had not been destroyed, the incident showed an ongoing trend in russia’s use of low-cost UAV platforms for multi-role functions. This could pose operational challenges for Ukrainian air defense systems that must distinguish between decoys and genuine threats in real time.
Overall, the event does not suggest a major technical leap, but it may indicate an effort to saturate Ukrainian air defenses with a wider variety of airborne threats using affordable platforms.
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