UAVs change the tactics of war in Ukraine: where is the place on the battlefield of shock helicopters - analysts

Despite the vulnerability of the screw machines, they have not lost their relevance. Military experts believe that this was influenced by the equipment of shock helicopters with more long -range missiles. The principles of air defense and the scale of the use of drones observed in Ukraine change the nature of the tactics of using military helicopters. According to Defense News, in such circumstances, the center of gravity shifts from attacking actions to combat along the front line.

The authors of the material point out that this shift is due to the spread of ground air defense agents, which make piloted flights over the battlefield is almost impossible. In 2024, helicopters on the front will first of all be fired support along the battle line, using bombing tactics and counteracting unmanned systems.

Journalists gave the words of the former adviser to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Sergey Kuzan, who noted that in the first days of a full -scale invasion, Russia emphasized the helicopters, planning a large -scale landing operation near Kiev. However, the vulnerability of combat helicopters has led to significant losses.

Thus, in February 2023, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported that Russia's air space forces lost 40% of the pre-war fleet of KA-52 combat helicopters. Senior Iiss Senior Iiss Duglas Barry believes that the loss of Russian helicopters is ongoing, but new technologies help to reduce risks. According to him, changes in tactics and the introduction of new weapons, such as the "Air-Earth" rocket X-39, which provides a greater range of damage, also affected the situation.

For his part, the Commander of the French Army Air Army, Major General Pierre Meyer at the Paris Aviation Forum, stated that the Russian operation in Gostomel should be an instructive example. He emphasized the importance of the proper use of helicopters, noting that such actions without taking into account threats can lead to similar losses.

"Depending on the conflict, shock helicopters occupy their rightful place and play their role, but their use can evolve towards the use of weapons, which allows to act from a greater distance," he stressed. Earlier, the British observer David ex in his material for The Telegraph said that the war in Ukraine symbolized the collapse of combat helicopters. According to him, the screw machines now have become completely defenseless on the front line - and therefore, they need to be used differently.