File image.
The Russian military has reportedly begun to equip Mi-8AMTSh armed transport helicopters operating close to the front in the special military operation zone in Ukraine with a new electronic warfare system likely meant to counter interceptor drones.
The first photo of a Mi-8AMTSh equipped with the new mysterious electronic warfare system was shared by the Russian Telegram channel War History Weapons on August 16.
In the photo, two directional sector panel antennas of the system are seen installed atop the ends of the helicopters’ stub wings.
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram\War History Weapons)
The Mi-8AMTSh comes already equipped with a protection suit, namely the Vitebsk L370E8, which is designed to protect against more traditional threats. The system includes laser, radar, and missile approach warning sensors, alongside flare dispensers and active directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) laser jamming pods to automatically neutralize incoming heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles.
It is unclear if the new electronic warfare system has been integrated with the Vitebsk or installed as an independent system.
Although Ukraine has significantly expanded the use of interceptor drones over the past year, they are yet to pose any real threats to Russian helicopters. The use of these interceptors remains very much limited to other unmanned systems, and they have rarely managed to approach helicopters.
One major issue with these interceptors, which are optically guided with a man-in-the-loop in most cases, is that they rely on radio frequency datalinks. This makes them completely exposed to electronic warfare means, unlike one-way attack drones guided via fiber-optic cables, for example.
The Russian military is clearly working to get ahead of the threat, fortifying its fleet of helicopters against this emerging threat.
Besides the system recently spotted on the Mi-8AMTSh, another system is now being installed on Mi-28M attack helicopters. It was first spotted last June.
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