In view of what is happening in the war in Ukraine, and the enormous activity of drones in military actions, I have seen some reflections from experts that question the usefulness of attack helicopters.
Because, an attack helicopter is a very expensive weapon, it exceeds 40 million dollars each, which is handled by two experienced pilots who need years of experience to fly them, and if it is eliminated in combat it supposes a significant loss.
In the Vietnam War, the Americans lost more than 5,500 helicopters, and in the recent war in Ukraine, the Russians have lost more than 60 combat helicopters, representing a significant sum of Russian stocks. In fact, the Ukrainians are not asking their allies to send them helicopters, but to send them more missiles to shoot down the Russian helicopters.
Attack helicopters may not be obsolete, but they are facing increasing challenges due to new technologies and threats.
Attack helicopters are a powerful tool for ground attack, but they are also vulnerable to ground fire and air-to-air missiles. They are expensive to operate and maintain, and require a lot of training to fly and fight.
In recent years, there have been a number of new technologies that have made attack helicopters more vulnerable. These include:
Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS): MANPADS are shoulder-fired missiles that can be used to shoot down helicopters. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, and have become a major threat to attack helicopters.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): UAVs can be used to search for enemy forces and attack helicopters with missiles or bombs. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate, and are becoming more capable all the time.
Anti-helicopter radars: Anti-helicopter radars can be used to track and guide anti-aircraft weapons on helicopters. They are becoming more common and pose a serious threat to attack helicopters.
In addition to these new technologies, attack helicopters are also facing increasing threats from traditional ground forces. These threats include:
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs): ATGMs are long-range missiles that can be used to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles. They can also be used against helicopters and pose a serious threat.
Small fire arms: Small fire arms can be used to damage or destroy helicopters. It is a particularly serious threat to low and slow flying helicopters.
Despite these challenges, attack helicopters can be a valuable asset to ground attack. They can provide close air support to troops on the ground and can also be used to attack enemy forces from a distance. And they are also a valuable tool for reconnaissance and surveillance, although drones already do that at much lower cost, and with fewer risks.
The truth is that the technologies developed in recent years, and especially unmanned drones, offer possibilities never seen before and within the reach of almost any country, which are revolutionizing military attack and defense concepts.
I think we are going to see big changes in the coming years.
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