by DAVID AXE
The disputed gray zone in Ukraine is a very, very dangerous place for helicopters. The threat from ground-based guns and missiles and aerial interceptor drones has effectively pushed back rotary wing forces on both sides of the wider war.
Now Ukraine and Russia both rarely deploy helicopters for ground attacks across the gray zone. Instead, they fly their helicopters over their own cities as aerial gun platforms for defending against one-way attack drones.
But it’s possible the Ukrainian army is pairing some its helicopters with a guided rocket that makes gray zone operations acceptably safe. A video that circulated on Wednesday appears to depict a Ukrainian helicopter—likely a Mil Mi-8/17 or Mil Mi-24—lobbing laser-guided rockets at a Russian fighting position.
