Ukrainian FPV drones changing the game in helicopter warfare

Ukrainians continue hunting Russian helicopters using FPV drones. We present the effectiveness of this innovative application of commercial drones.

During operations in Kursk Oblast, Ukrainians used FPV drones in a novel way – specifically to target Russian helicopters that were supporting or transporting aid to the combat zone.

Wirtualna Polska journalist Karolina Modzelewska reported the first case of an FPV drone hitting a Mi-28 attack helicopter. Now, a second known instance of a transport helicopter being downed has emerged. The photo below shows a wrecked Mi-8AMTSh helicopter struck on the tail rotor.

FPV drones have become a substitute for modern guided weapons for both Ukrainians and Russians. These drones enable the creation of a weapon capable of destroying equipment worth millions, at a cost of just 2-3 thousand dollars for the drone and its striking agent. For example, the cost of an Mi-8AMTSh is estimated to be as much as 11 million dollars, making the 2-3 thousand dollars expenditure seem like proverbial peanuts.

To ground a helicopter, the easiest method is to hit the tail boom or tail rotor, which counteracts the torque from the main drive rotor. In simple terms, if the tail rotor is destroyed, the helicopter begins to spin uncontrollably, leading to a crash. Only helicopters like the Ka-52 Alligator with a coaxial rotor system are resistant to such damage.

The concept is simple, but the challenge lies in hitting the target because helicopters can fly at speeds exceeding 125 mph, which is beyond the reach of FPV drones. This means that FPV drone pilots must attack their targets from the side. This is not an easy task, but as results show, it is doable and poses a significant problem for helicopter pilots, who usually do not have onboard radars capable of detecting incoming drones.

Only electronic warfare pods that create a specific bubble around the helicopter with a diameter of, for example, 656 feet, within which the control signal ceases to function, can offer some protection. However, these types of jammers are not always effective because the opponent might have adapted to their operating characteristics or might be using drones connected to the control station via fibre optics. In the case of such a wired connection, any jammer is powerless.