Ukrainian Mi‑8 helicopters innovate to tackle Russian drones

Ukrainians have devised a unique application for Mi-8 helicopters to counter Russian drones. This innovation is partially driven by the need to conserve expensive missiles provided by Western air defence systems.

The Mi-8 is a versatile helicopter with a history dating back to the 1960s, yet it remains a common sight in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both factions frequently use this aircraft type to transport soldiers or evacuate civilians, but they also sometimes participate in combat missions. Remarkably, the Mi-8 can even take on a leading role in such operations.

A video circulating on social media shows the crew of a Ukrainian Mi-8 using a machine gun mounted on the helicopter to engage a Russian drone effectively.

As Forbes highlighted, this strategy has historical parallels, reminiscent of tactics employed by some armies during World War II. Specifically, it evokes helicopters equipped with nose-mounted machine guns to safeguard bombers from enemy fighters.

Ukrainians have stressed their pursuit of alternatives to the most sophisticated air defence systems. They aim to avoid using expensive missiles to shoot down drones, such as those from the Patriot system, which is often not cost-effective and can be impractical given the sheer number of Russian drones during large-scale attacks.

Experts suggest that VAMPIR missile systems are the most effective countermeasure to Russian Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones. These systems utilize modified 70 mm (2.75-inch) Hydra unguided rockets fitted with guidance systems.

German-supplied Gepard systems are also proving highly effective in combating Iranian drones in Ukraine. These are equipped with 35 mm (1.4-inch) automatic cannons, each boasting a 550-round-per-minute firing rate. Additionally, there have been rare instances where Russian drones were downed by a Yak-52 training aircraft. However, these occurrences are as uncommon as the newly documented use of the Mi-8 for this purpose.