Columbia National Police (CNP) one UH-60 "Black Hawk" helicopter was recently attacked by a drone and crashed, setting a record for such attacks in the Western Hemisphere, and also highlighting the increasing vulnerability of helicopters.
The US website "The Drive" column analyzed that the tactic of attacking helicopters with drones first occurred in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and then began to spread globally. The governor of Antioquia Department in Colombia, Londoño, said on the social media platform X that this "Black Hawk" helicopter was hit by a drone while providing security for police officers conducting anti-drug operations. He said that there are former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) fighters and the largest drug trafficking group in Colombia, the Gulf Clan, active in the area.
According to videos released online, the "Black Hawk" helicopter slowly approached a landing point, and then there was an explosion, and black and gray smoke could be seen rising, with at least 12 people on board killed.
This incident highlights many troubling developments, especially the vulnerability of helicopters against drone attacks. In fact, South Korea canceled the purchase of 36 AH-64E attack helicopters due to this concern. Park Yong-won, a member of the People Power Party in South Korea, said that the Ukrainian battlefield has shown the vulnerability of helicopters against the proliferation of air defense systems and loitering munitions / suicide drones, prompting the South Korean government to make this decision. Park Yong-won also said: "Drones and intelligent systems are redefining the modern battlefield, and we should not stick to expensive traditional platforms, but invest in forces that reflect the trends of future warfare."
Undoubtedly, small armed drones, especially first-person view (FPV) drones, are increasingly threatening helicopters as this technology spreads around the world. In the past, ground combat teams wanted to use precision-guided weapons to attack helicopters, which required the use of portable air defense missiles or anti-tank missiles, but the latter were only effective when helicopters were landing, taking off, or on the ground. Moreover, these missiles are expensive and difficult to obtain. However, FPV drones are low-cost and easy to acquire, especially because FPV can hit helicopters with high flexibility and accuracy. Now, just a few people and multiple FPV drones can provide point air defense capabilities to protect important areas where helicopters may approach. These FPV drones react quickly, and the pilots basically don't have to worry about exposing themselves. In addition, if the FPV doesn't find the target, they can be reused. If necessary, FPV can even actively patrol in the air, searching for incoming helicopters.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841330601512012/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.