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Comment by yutyut | Hacker News Reader

> Helicopter gunships shoot down drones with bullets these days is very common and there are other economic means of bringing them down.

> Everyone seems to be an expert today.

Pot meet kettle?

Speaking as a former helicopter gunship weapons and tactics instructor (WTI), this is a VERY broad generalization. Sure, a gunship can shoot down a drone with 20mm or 30mm but you have to get pretty close. And first you have to find it.

Other factors 1. target altitude 2. air superiority (MANPADS is a real threat over land) 3. marksmanship

It might be more effective to throw AIM-9s on helos and target drones that way...but depending on the generation of missile those run ~$300k each and the inventory is limited.

I have heard the Ukrainians are using APKWS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Precision_Kill_Weapon...) against drone to good effect from ground and air platforms.

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In Israel helicopters are routinely taking down these drones. There are many videos of them chasing them down. There was an incident where some houses were hit by that cannon fire as well. They are finding them (presumably with radar).

You're probably more of an expert than me so educate me on how this works. But it is working.

But yes, some drones are also being taken down with air to air missiles.

[EDIT: at least the videos from Israel] Those drones are typically shot down over your territory so air superiority and MANPADS are less of an issue.

My main point was it's not the $2M THAAD missile taking down a $50k drone.

EDIT: https://www.twz.com/air/ah-64-apache-is-getting-proximity-fu...

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukrainian_naval_aviation_heli...

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-shot-down-3-200-shahed-t...

https://theaviationist.com/2026/03/10/uae-ah-64-apaches-coun...

https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/us-apache-pilots-dro...

Wow, proximity fused 30mm. Never heard of that, but I've been out for a while and technology has really accelerated in the last 3-4 years.

Thanks for sharing.

And yes, find and fix with a strategic radar platform. It's tough to set up DCA (defensive counter-air) lanes with helicopters; they're slow and most need to refuel on the ground (an argument could be made for using H-60's. Some variants can refuel in the air).

Depending on the threat picture, it could be feasible to set helos up to defend naval assets or use them like Israel has been to defend land-based high-value assets.

Israel is a pretty small country as I'm sure you know. The northern border is about 60km wide. As I understand it the big problem with drones coming from the north is that they are programmed to fly through valleys and the topography is mountainous which makes them hard to detect. Drones from Iran or Yemen have large stretches of open flat desert and have to cross very large distances. Another purely speculative thought is that the F-35s act as an airborne radar to help with detection.

Israelis get advanced warning for (most) drone attacks and have to go into shelters/safe rooms just like with missiles. There is a specific/different kind of warning.

AFAIK in the big attack last year these Shaed drones were shot down by jets with air-to-air missiles.

I served in the IAF on that northern border (not a pilot or anything like that but a somewhat relevant role) so at least I'm familiar with the topography and distances.

The other thing coming into play in Israel these days is the laser system: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Beam I think it already shot down at least one drone.

Also- Thanks for your service and for the "insider" perspective.

Random btw popped up on my YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz0z8_hkY8c

some footage of AH-64 blowing up drones.

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