# Attack Helicopters Falling Prey to Drones: Lessons for African Forces

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2025/08/attack-helicopters-falling-prey-to-drones-lessons-for-african-forces/
- Published: 2025-08-28T12:29:36+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

Drones have altered the dynamics of aerial warfare by targeting assets that once
held clear advantages in mobility and firepower. Attack helicopters, prized for 
their ability to deliver precise strikes and support ground operations, now encounter
risks from these inexpensive unmanned systems.

In multiple conflicts, drones have destroyed helicopters both on the ground and 
during flight, revealing weaknesses in rotorcraft defences. For African militaries,
which often deploy helicopters in counter-insurgency and border patrols against 
groups using off-the-shelf drones, these events provide direct guidance on adjusting
strategies to protect vital air support.

In Ukraine, where the conflict has driven rapid advancements in drone tactics, Russian
forces have lost a number of helicopters since the start of the conflict in 2022.
Ukrainian drones and air defences have compelled Russia to reposition its rotorcraft
farther from front lines and relocate bases deep into its territory to evade strikes.
This adjustment has lowered the helicopter loss rate over the past year, but it 
has also shaped requirements for future designs like the PAK AA, which seeks greater
range and speed than current models such as the Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28N. Those
helicopters achieve maximum speeds of about 300 kilometres per hour and combat radii
of roughly 200-250 kilometres on internal fuel. Operations now occur at distances
of several hundred kilometres, limiting immediate responsiveness but preserving 
assets.

Specific incidents show drones downing airborne helicopters. In August 2024, a Ukrainian
first-person-view drone struck a Russian Mi-28 helicopter in the Kursk region while
it was in flight, causing it to crash. The drone closed in rapidly, detonating on
impact despite the helicopter’s attempts to manoeuvre. Another case from December
2024 involved a sea drone launching a missile that destroyed a Russian Mi-8 transport
helicopter mid-air. In June 2025, Ukrainian forces used drones to attack Russian
airfields, engaging various helicopters as some lifted off or hovered. These attacks
demonstrate how drones exploit brief exposures, using speed and low signatures to
bypass [countermeasures ](https://futurewartech.com/anti-drone-technology-defending-the-skies-with-counter-uas-strategies-and-systems/)
like flares or electronic jamming.

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Although, as with all high-intensity conflict, many experts believe that eventually,
upgrades from the experiences gained on the battlefield in terms of anti-drone warfare
will help improve on helicopter models, and strengthen global market position of
Russian military equipment.

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In Sudan, the civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support 
Forces has seen [drones play a central role](https://www.military.africa/2025/06/drones-in-the-sudanese-war/)
since 2023. The Rapid Support Forces claimed to have shot down three helicopters
among other aircraft in April 2023 during assaults on bases in the east. Drone strikes
have [targeted military installations](https://www.military.africa/2023/04/several-military-aircraft-destroyed-in-sudans-merowe-airbase/)
in Port Sudan, with explosions in May 2025 linked to unmanned assaults on air and
naval facilities, likely damaging helicopters during low-level operations or on 
the ground. The Rapid Support Forces have employed suicide drones resembling cruise
missiles to hit army positions, including air assets, escalating the conflict’s 
aerial component. These examples demonstrate how non-state or paramilitary groups
utilise commercial technology for strikes, thereby challenging conventional forces
in both urban and remote areas.

A recent example from Colombia in August 2025 involves a police Sikorsky UH-60 Black
Hawk helicopter attacked by a drone while airborne in Antioquia department. The 
aircraft supported manual eradication of illicit coca crops in the Los Toros area
of Amalfi countryside when the drone struck, leading to a crash into a hill that
killed 12 officers. Governor Andrés Julián Rendón shared video footage of the incident,
confirming the drone’s role in downing the helicopter during a routine low-altitude
mission.

These cases reveal patterns that African forces must address, as helicopters remain
key for rapid response in vast territories plagued by insurgencies. In Ukraine, 
losses have forced tactical shifts to longer-range operations, a model that could
apply to African scenarios where bases are vulnerable to drone swarms. Sudan’s experiences
underline the risks in civil wars where both sides wield unmanned systems, often
sourced at low cost. The Colombian incident shows how criminal networks, similar
to African militias, [use drones](https://www.military.africa/2025/02/the-rise-of-drone-warfare-insurgents-and-terrorists-in-africa/)
against state aircraft in anti-narcotics or counter-terror efforts, exploiting low
flight paths.

African militaries face a growing challenge from terror groups, insurgents, and 
non-state actors who f[ield commercially available off-the-shelf drones](https://www.military.africa/2024/12/jihadists-in-nigeria-launches-drone-assault/)
for surveillance, strikes, and logistics. Boko Haram in Nigeria has deployed drones
for intelligence and attacks, while al-Shabaab in Somalia integrates them into ambushes.
To mitigate this, forces can implement layered defences starting with detection 
through radars and radio frequency sensors that identify drones by signatures or
flight behaviours. Systems combining multiple sensors reduce false alarms by cross-
verifying data.

Disruption follows with [electronic warfare tools like jammers](https://www.military.africa/tag/counter-uav/)
that interfere with drone communications or navigation, forcing them to land or 
stray. Portable jammers suit field units, while vehicle-mounted versions protect
convoys or bases. [Physical intercepts include](https://futurewartech.com/how-to-effectively-defend-against-fpv-drones-on-the-battlefield-lessons-from-ukraine/)
nets launched from ground stations or other drones, or kinetic options like small
arms fire for close threats.

Machine learning algorithms analyse patterns to predict drone approaches, enabling
pre-emptive actions. Artificial intelligence in [counter-systems](https://futurewartech.com/anti-drone-technology-defending-the-skies-with-counter-uas-strategies-and-systems/)
allows autonomous responses, such as directing jammers or interceptors without constant
human input. Also, regional cooperation shares intelligence on drone types and tactics,
with joint exercises building shared protocols.

Regulations control drone imports and sales, limiting access for illicit users through
licensing and tracking. Investment in local research develops affordable [countermeasures](https://futurewartech.com/anti-drone-technology-defending-the-skies-with-counter-uas-strategies-and-systems/),
like indigenous jammers or sensors, tailored to African conditions. Training programmes
can teach pilots evasive flying and ground crews rapid deployment of defences.

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For helicopters, onboard systems like radar warning receivers alert to incoming 
drones, while flares or chaff distract heat-seeking variants. Air escorts with[ anti-drone capabilities](https://futurewartech.com/anti-drone-technology-defending-the-skies-with-counter-uas-strategies-and-systems/)
provide cover during vulnerable phases like takeoff or low-altitude flights. Directed
energy weapons, such as lasers, offer future precision neutralisation without ammunition
limits.

These measures, when combined, help African forces adapt to drone threats, preserving
helicopter utility in operations against asymmetric foes. By drawing from global
examples and investing in accessible technology, militaries can maintain an edge
in contested spaces.

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