The Russian military is increasingly facing a new threat on the battlefield – Ukrainian FPV drones, which, according to a well-known Russian “military expert” under the pseudonym Fighterbomber, are becoming more dangerous to helicopters than anti-aircraft missiles. As Defense Express reports, only two successful attacks by such drones are known, both in the Kursk region, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine conduct special operations.
According to the military director, Russian pilots are often reprimanded for aggressive maneuvering during attacks, which, according to analysts, is due to attempts to conserve equipment resources. However, it turned out that the electronic warfare (EW) systems installed on helicopters still remain at the “enthusiast” level and do not have centralized support from Russian industry.
Electronic warfare systems on Russian helicopters, such as the L-370 Vitebsk, effectively counter anti-aircraft and air-to-air missiles by warning the crew of the threat and releasing heat traps. However, these systems are powerless against FPV drones. This opens up new opportunities for Ukrainian drones, which could pose a serious threat to Russian helicopters.
Homemade electronic warfare systems installed on helicopters are not a panacea and can cause problems, in particular due to conflicts with other radio systems already installed on aircraft. This is especially true for Ka-52 helicopters, which are known for their high vibration, which further complicates the situation.
According to analysts, it may take a long time before effective Russian-made factory-made electronic warfare equipment appears, since the development and implementation of new technologies in aviation is a long process. In addition, in the context of combating FPV drones, electronic countermeasures may be helpless, since Ukrainian drones can use machine vision technologies that allow them to bypass electronic warfare.
One of the key factors in the confrontation between FPV drones and helicopters remains speed. While some drones are capable of speeds of up to 260 km/h, for the Ka-52 helicopter this is cruising speed, with its top speed being 310 km/h. This may allow Russian helicopters to avoid attacks on oncoming courses, but it will be difficult to fully defend against the new threat.
