El Mundo raised an intelligence warning about a possible Russian unmanned aerial vehicle operation in Europe. The Spanish newspaper wrote that the CIA had informed the governments of Spain, France and Italy about a possible operation targeting one of these countries.
The report alleged that Gerbera-type drones could be used in the operation after being concealed aboard commercial vessels, and that the vehicles could be launched from the Mediterranean. A source close to Lithuania’s Defence Ministry said launching them from a vessel would be relatively easy.
El Mundo wrote that Lithuanian officials knew the type of drone that could be used. According to the newspaper, the governments of Spain, France and Italy were warned that the possible operation could target one of these countries; some defence analysts were also aware of a detailed CIA report circulating among European governments.
Range of Gerbera-type drones
The report said Gerbera-type drones can have a range of up to 600 kilometers, depending on their payload and the operational conditions. It said that if such a vehicle were launched from a vessel located 200 to 300 kilometers off the coast, exposed equipment at ports or airports could be damaged and operations could be temporarily disrupted.
El Mundo linked the warning to CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow on August 25. The newspaper also cited reports by The Wall Street Journal and Politico that Ratcliffe had warned Russia against attacks or provocations targeting NATO.
The intelligence warning attributed to the CIA and the possible plans attributed to Russia have not been independently verified.
