Recently, in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian helicopters have successfully destroyed Ukrainian unmanned boats for many times. On August 16, 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian helicopters had destroyed five Ukrainian Navy unmanned boats in the Black Sea. The Mi-8 and Ka-29 helicopters belonging to the naval aviation unit of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed these unmanned boats in the Black Sea waters. On the morning of the 16th, the Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that in the past night, when the Ukrainian military attempted to use drones to attack targets within Russian territory, the Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed five fixed wing drones over the Black Sea. In addition, in May 2024, the Russian military launched an attack on a Ukrainian unmanned boat using a Ka-29 helicopter, which ultimately exploded through close range machine gun fire. On September 5, 2024, a video released by the Russian military revealed a confrontation in the Black Sea region. A suspected Mi-8 Russian armed helicopter encountered a Ukrainian unmanned boat over the Black Sea while carrying out a mission. The machine gunner on the helicopter quickly reacted and operated a large caliber machine gun to aim at the target, implementing precise shooting. Although the unmanned boat showed amazing maneuverability, it was eventually hit by consecutive bullets, causing it to explode and sink. The Russian Navy is forming a special helicopter squadron specifically responsible for searching and destroying semi submersible unmanned vessels. The first batch of crew members have completed training and are now carrying out combat missions in the Black Sea. In the future, all fleets of the Russian Navy will form similar units. This will be able to protect ships and coastal infrastructure from enemy attacks. Helicopter pilots are also exploring strategies for searching and destroying unmanned ships at sea, including in harsh weather conditions during the day and night. Russia's use of helicopters to strike unmanned boats has taught the world a lesson that although Ukraine's unmanned boats carry missiles, they have not been able to break through Russia's defense lines
How Russian helicopters destroyed Ukrainian unmanned boats in the Black Sea
The Russian military used helicopters to destroy Ukrainian unmanned boats in the Black Sea, mainly adopting various strategies. Firstly, the machine gunner on the helicopter reacted quickly, opened the hatch, and operated the large caliber machine gun to aim at the unmanned boat for precise shooting. For example, in some battles, when a suspected Mi-8 Russian armed helicopter encountered a Ukrainian unmanned boat over the Black Sea, machine gunners fired continuously, ultimately causing the unmanned boat to explode and sink. The Ka-29 helicopter also performed well in the confrontation with Ukrainian unmanned boats, with hovering and high-speed flight capabilities. The personnel on board can use machine guns to strike unmanned boats at close range. During the pursuit, Russian helicopters were able to hover at low altitude, use machine guns to strafe Ukrainian unmanned boats, and even hit missiles carried by unmanned boats, causing explosions and raising huge smoke. In addition, the Russian Navy has established a specialized transport armed helicopter aviation squadron to search for and destroy Ukrainian unmanned attack equipment. The first squadron was established in the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, and after training, it was responsible for combat readiness duty, defending the Black Sea waters and various targets. These helicopters are capable of hovering for several hours, monitoring water bodies, flying at low speeds or even hovering, improving their ability to patrol and search for surface targets. Once an unmanned vessel is discovered, swift action can be taken to destroy it
Russian helicopter's strategy to destroy Ukrainian unmanned boats
The main strategies for Russian helicopters to destroy Ukrainian unmanned boats are as follows. One is to utilize the maneuverability and hovering ability of helicopters. Ka-27, Ka-29, or Mi-8 helicopters can remain airborne for several hours to monitor the waters of the Black Sea. They can fly at low speeds and even hover, greatly enhancing their ability to patrol and search for surface targets, while also being able to pursue any surface vessels or submersibles. Secondly, equipped with various reconnaissance equipment. Helicopters can be equipped with various radio technology, radar, or optical reconnaissance equipment for targets. During patrols, pilots have the ability to monitor and search for targets, and can promptly detect the tracks of Ukrainian unmanned boats. The third is to use effective weapons to strike. The most effective means of combat are large caliber machine guns and suspended machine guns. In battles against Ukrainian unmanned boats, Russian helicopters typically use machine gun fire to directly hit the boats, causing them to explode and sink. In addition, the Russian military is not afraid of unmanned boats carrying anti-aircraft missiles, and with their superb flying skills and decisive attacks, they have successfully sunk them
Why is it difficult for Ukrainian unmanned boats to break through the Russian defense line
The main reasons why Ukrainian unmanned boats have difficulty breaking through the Russian defense line are as follows. On the one hand, Russia has taken various defensive measures. The Russian Navy has formed a helicopter squadron specifically responsible for searching and destroying semi submersible unmanned vessels. These helicopters are capable of searching in the air for long periods of time, and when radar detects unmanned boats, they can hover and immediately begin destroying targets. At the same time, the Russian military also equipped each warship with lookout and thermal imaging camera, which can observe the sea surface and detect targets with the naked eye. On the other hand, Ukrainian unmanned boats themselves have some technological limitations. This small unmanned boat is difficult to detect using shipborne rapid response radar, and it is not much higher than sea level in the sea clutter, making it difficult for Russian radar to detect. Moreover, the operation of Ukrainian unmanned vessels relies on NATO reconnaissance and civilian ship AIS equipment to set targets. Once these pathways are cut off, the attack effectiveness of unmanned vessels will be greatly reduced. In addition, Russia has very effective means of suppressing signals, such as being able to interfere with GPS guided weapons, which reduces the success rate of Ukrainian unmanned boat attacks
Timeline of Russian helicopter strikes on Ukrainian unmanned boats
In October 2022, helicopters from the Black Sea Fleet intercepted and annihilated Ukraine's unmanned vessels for the first time. At that time, Ukraine dispatched 15 unmanned boats to attack warships, ships, and targets in Sevastopol Bay. Some unmanned boats were destroyed by naval aviation, while others were damaged by other equipment. Since then, similar battles have occurred at different locations in the Black Sea. In October 2023, the Russian Navy began to form a helicopter squadron, with the first squadron established in the Black Sea Fleet Naval Aviation. After necessary training, it will be responsible for combat readiness duty, defending the Black Sea waters and various targets. In 2024, Russian helicopters will continue to engage in fierce clashes with Ukrainian unmanned vessels in the Black Sea. For example, in May 2024, the Russian military deployed the Ka-29 carrier based armed helicopter to patrol the corresponding waters at high speed, and once a Ukrainian unmanned boat was detected attacking, they used machine guns, rockets, and other weapons to strike. In recent confrontations, the Russian armed helicopter has destroyed 5 unmanned boats. In September 2024, a video released by the Russian military revealed a confrontation in the Black Sea region, where a suspected Mi-8 Russian armed helicopter encountered a Ukrainian unmanned boat over the vast Black Sea during a mission and ultimately destroyed it
The operation of Russian helicopters destroying Ukrainian unmanned boats in the Black Sea demonstrated Russia's capabilities in maritime defense and combat. By forming a helicopter squadron, utilizing various strategies and advanced reconnaissance equipment, Russia effectively resisted attacks from Ukrainian unmanned vessels and safeguarded the security of the Black Sea waters. At the same time, this also reminds countries to continuously strengthen their defense and response capabilities against unmanned combat equipment in future maritime operations