Ukrainian manufacturer General Chereshnia announced that its AIR interceptor drone has successfully neutralized Russian decoy drones. According to a company statement released this week, the AIR drone has recorded its first successful interceptions of the so-called “Gerbera” decoys — drones that mimic the widely used Geran-2 (a Russian-produced version of Iran’s Shahed-136 kamikaze drone).
The Gerbera, like the original Shahed, was initially deployed to saturate and mislead Ukrainian air defenses. However, General Chereshnia warns that Russia has begun repurposing these decoys for strike and reconnaissance roles in recent months. The company attributes this shift to design characteristics that make the Gerbera more elusive on radar and capable of sharper maneuvering than its original intent as a distraction drone.
“This is why combating both Shaheds and Gerberas requires new approaches, mobile, targeted and more cost-effective than air defense missiles,” the manufacturer stated. “Our AIR drone effectively counters modern threats in resource-constrained conditions. Using expensive and limited air defense missiles to destroy mass-produced enemy UAVs is inefficient.”
The announcement comes amid a renewed wave of drone attacks by Russian forces. Overnight from July 5 to 6, Ukrainian cities including Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia endured coordinated drone strikes. The attacks caused multiple fires and injuries and targeted not only civilian areas but also emergency responders.
In Kharkiv and Kherson, Russian forces reportedly struck rescue workers who were responding to damage from earlier attacks. On the morning of July 6, drones also hit Mykolaiv, while in Kremenchuk, a military recruitment center was targeted.
With the AIR drone now proving capable of intercepting both Geran-2 and Gerbera variants, Ukrainian forces may be better positioned to manage the escalating threat without further depleting their limited missile stockpiles.
General Chereshnia has not disclosed how many AIR drones are currently operational or deployed at the front but emphasized that mobile interceptors like AIR are essential for responding quickly and economically to evolving threats in Ukraine’s contested airspace.
Post Image – Debris of intercepted Geran drone by Ukrainian air defense (Post Image Credit: Ukrainian Air Force)
