FPV drones challenge Russian helicopters in modern warfare
The war in Ukraine is filled with astonishing events that will be studied in military academies for decades. One of the more intriguing scenarios is the attempt to counter FPV drones, which are relatively inexpensive, against attack helicopters costing tens of millions of dollars. We present the case of a Russian Ka-52 Alligator narrowly avoiding a hit.
The Ukrainians first demonstrated that FPV drones could target helicopters during operations in the Kursk region. The first victim of these drones was a Mi-28N helicopter, followed by a transport helicopter, the Mi-8AMTSh.
Since then, several more aircraft have been targeted since then, although the Ka-52 Alligator has been largely spared. These helicopters are rare and valuable, making each loss significant. The video below shows how the Ka-52 Alligator narrowly evaded the Ukrainian FPV drone, codenamed "Glovo."
FPV drones as anti-aircraft weapons
FPV drones are gaining popularity among Ukrainian and Russian forces as an affordable alternative to guided weapons. Combined with suitable munitions, these unmanned vehicles cost only 2,000 to 3,000 dollars, yet they can destroy equipment worth millions.
The simplest way to disable a helicopter is to target the tail boom or tail rotor, which balances the main rotor's torque. Damage here could cause the aircraft to spin uncontrollably, leading to a crash. Only the Russian Ka-52 Alligator, with its coaxial rotors, is resistant to this attack. It can only be neutralized by hitting its engines or main rotor.
A major challenge is that helicopters can reach speeds exceeding 125 mph, which are unattainable for FPV drones. Therefore, drone pilots must approach from the side, predicting the helicopter's path. Although difficult, this tactic is feasible and poses a significant threat to pilots, as helicopters often lack radars for early detection of such threats.
The only protective measure may be electronic warfare pods, which create a defensive bubble around the helicopter, approximately 984 feet in diameter, within which control signals are ineffective. However, operators cannot be sure of their effectiveness, and some drone types using fibre optic technology or artificial intelligence algorithms may be completely resistant to these defences.
Ka-52 alligator — a unique Russian helicopter threatened with extinction
The Ka-52 Alligator is a modernized version of the Ka-50 helicopter, which began development in 1991. Its uniqueness lies in its coaxial main rotors and side-by-side seating arrangement for pilots, differing from the classic tandem setup found in combat helicopters like the American AH-1Z Viper, where pilots sit behind each other.
The Ka-52 Alligator is typically armed with an automatic 2A42 cannon mounted on the side of the fuselage and six pylons on its wings. The two outermost pylons often carry electronic warfare pods or 9K38 Igla anti-aircraft missiles, while the four inner pylons are used for heavier weapons.
On this helicopter, you can find AT-12 Vikhir anti-tank missiles with laser guidance systems, Kh-25MP anti-radiation missiles, bombs, and unguided S-8 rockets. Additionally, these helicopters are equipped with L-370P2 Vitebsk defensive systems designed to jam radars and block incoming missiles with lasers. The price of one Alligator is roughly 16 million dollars.
