The United States Army conducted new tests with the attack helicopter AH-64 Apache, enhancing its capability to combat drones in modern warfare scenarios.
The aircraft successfully detected, tracked, and destroyed aerial targets using various munitions, including Hellfire JAGM missiles, Hydra-70 rockets with APKWS precision warheads, and 30mm rounds with proximity fuzes.
The Pentagon emphasized that the goal is to maintain the Apache as an essential tool, combining speed, flexibility, and relatively low cost in countering UAVs.
Israel already employs its AH-64A Peten helicopters in real-world air defense operations, particularly against Iranian Shahed drones. The aircraft can intercept threats quickly, and according to the Israeli army, in 2018 a drone was shot down just one and a half minutes after entering the country’s airspace. To achieve this, the Apaches use 30mm M230E-1 cannons capable of firing 625 rounds per minute.
In Ukraine, military aviation has also proven effective in counter-drone operations. Since August 2024, helicopters such as the Soviet-era Mi-8, equipped with rapid-fire machine guns, have shot down over 3,200 Shahed drones launched by Russia. On the other side, the Russians have also deployed their Mi-28N attack helicopters to counter UAV attacks on their territory, highlighting the growing importance of these assets in the conflict.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @usairforce | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team
