12:56 16-10-2025

Ukraine Expands Helicopter Fleet to Counter Drone Threat

Military expert Vladislav Shurygin says Ukraine aims to boost its helicopter fleet to combat drones, while Russia considers new countermeasures amid growing aerial warfare tactics.

According to military analyst Vladislav Shurygin, Ukraine plans to expand its fleet of helicopters to combat unmanned aerial vehicles.

He noted that the experience of the Russian Armed Forces has demonstrated the high effectiveness of helicopters in countering drones. It appears that this conclusion has also been drawn within the Ukrainian military, which now intends to increase the scale of their use.

Shurygin suggested that Western allies are likely prepared to finance the purchase of additional helicopters for Kiev or to transfer some from their own reserves, since Ukraine has few other sources for such equipment.

The expert added that Russia also needs to develop an effective response to these new tactics. He mentioned the possibility of equipping drones with air-defense systems but described this approach as a dead end.

As an alternative, Shurygin proposed the creation of advanced machines capable of independently detecting and striking targets while defending themselves. However, he emphasized that such systems would come at an enormous cost — «comparable to that of a spacecraft».