As Russia continues to launch massive waves of Shahed long-range one-way attack drones across Ukraine, the country’s armed forces are turning to innovative tactics to defend its airspace, particularly at night and in poor weather conditions.
Ukrainian officials say the use of helicopters equipped with advanced multi-sensor systems has emerged as one of the most effective solutions to counter these persistent aerial threats. The challenge of intercepting hundreds of drones over Europe’s largest country has been exacerbated by a shortage of air defense missiles, forcing commanders to rely on rapid and practical alternatives.
While Soviet-era helicopters such as the Mi-8 and Mi-24 have been deployed during daytime attacks and in favorable weather, their effectiveness is severely limited under nighttime or low-visibility conditions. To bridge this gap, Ukrainian forces are now utilizing Airbus H125 and H225 helicopters originally purchased for the State Border Guard Service and the State Emergency Service.
The Airbus helicopters are outfitted with Teledyne FLIR UltraFORCE 350 multi-sensor systems, enabling crews to detect and track hostile drones in complete darkness. In combat operations, a pair of helicopters are typically deployed: the light Airbus H125 identifies and tracks the target using its gyro-stabilized optical system, then guides a massive Soviet-era Mi-8 to engage and destroy the drone with onboard weapons.
“Our FLIR sensor is our eyes—it allows us to see everything in the darkness or bad weather and work safely against kamikaze drones,” one Ukrainian pilot explained.
Upon receiving target data from ground-based radar stations, these helicopter pairs are dispatched to the affected area. The Airbus H125, using its electro-optical suite, locates the incoming drone and monitors its trajectory. The Mi-8 then moves into position to fire on the Shahed drone, timing the engagement to ensure any debris falls harmlessly into open fields rather than populated areas.
The reliance on this tactic underscores the critical role of airborne surveillance systems in Ukraine’s defensive strategy. The H125 helicopters, however, are unarmed in their current configuration, meaning all direct engagements are handled by the accompanying Mi-8.
Ukraine began actively employing army aviation for drone interceptions in the summer of 2024. Success depends on a range of factors, including crew training and the timely detection of hostile aerial targets. The missions remain extremely dangerous for helicopter crews, as Shahed drones can carry warheads weighing up to 90 kilograms and require precise tracking of their maneuvers and distance from the aircraft.
The UltraFORCE 350 system was originally designed for security, reconnaissance, patrol, and search-and-rescue missions. But the realities of Ukraine’s conflict have given it a critical new role.
“Teledyne FLIR Defense solutions are proving to be ideally suited for airborne counter-drone applications, as seen recently in Ukraine,” a company spokesperson told Defence Blog. “The precision of our airborne thermal imaging systems means they are versatile enough to support a wide range of missions to detect, track and identify targets under all kinds of conditions.”
Looking ahead, Ukrainian defense planners are also considering the further modernization of some helicopters and even light aircraft by installing similar sensors. The goal is to enhance their ability to counter Russian drones, which are expected to increase in number, with forecasts suggesting Ukraine could face up to 1,000 drone attacks per day in future waves.
As Russia continues its campaign of drone strikes, Ukraine’s adaptive tactics highlight both the challenges and innovations driving modern warfare.