Ukrainian forces have been using FPV (First-Person View) drones to effectively target and take down Russian helicopters in the Kursk region.
Significant Impact - Minimal Cost
According to Tech this new tactic is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to counter Russian military operations by utilizing commercially available drones in ways that yield significant impact at a minimal cost.
The first successful strike with an FPV drone on a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter was reported by journalist Karolina Modzelewska.
More recently, another Russian helicopter, a Mi-8AMTSh, was downed after being struck by a drone, with the impact damaging its tail rotor and leading to a crash.
FPV drones have emerged as a low-cost alternative to modern guided weaponry for both Ukrainian and Russian forces. For just $2,000 to $3,000, these drones can take down helicopters worth millions.
Aims for Helicopter's Tail Rotor
The Mi-8AMTSh, for instance, is estimated to be worth around $15 million. The strategy involves aiming for the helicopter's tail rotor or tail boom, which, when damaged, causes the aircraft to spin uncontrollably, leading to a crash.
Despite the simplicity of this idea, executing such strikes is challenging. Helicopters can fly at speeds exceeding 120 mph, which outpaces the capabilities of most FPV drones. As a result, drone operators must anticipate and lead their targets, often attacking from the side.
This method has proven effective, causing significant concern among Russian helicopter pilots, whose aircraft generally lack onboard radar systems capable of detecting incoming drones.
Electronic warfare pods, designed to create a protective bubble around the helicopter, can offer some defense by disrupting drone signals within a certain radius.
However, these systems are not always foolproof, especially against drones that use fiber-optic connections to their control stations, rendering jamming efforts ineffective.
