U.S. Military "Apache" Attacked by Drones

Reference News Network reported on November 1 The website of the American "New York Times" published an article titled "A New Era of War: 9-Ton American Helicopters vs. Drones" on October 26, authored by Michael Schwirtz. The content is summarized as follows:

Watching a 9-ton "Apache" attack helicopter chase a small drone is somewhat like watching a lion chase a squirrel. So much energy is expended for what seems like a negligible return.

But in war, just like in nature, all means must be exhausted for survival. On the drone-dominated battlefield in Ukraine, the "natural prey" of the "Apache" helicopter—tanks and armored vehicles—are basically nowhere to be seen, and helicopter crews can only look for new ways to engage.

Military officials around the world have begun to reassess the practical utility of such 20th-century battlefield technologies. This month, the "Apache" helicopters of the 2nd Attack Battalion of the 159th Regiment conducted training in Germany to validate their combat value in drone engagement scenarios.

Executing Unconventional Missions

In the exercise codenamed "Skyfall 2," pilots took turns chasing a propeller drone target named "Fugitive." This drone has a wingspan of about 11 feet (approximately 3.35 meters), roughly equivalent to the wingspan of the Russian and Iranian "Shahed" long-range attack drones.

Despite its slower speed and simple design, Iran's "Shahed" drone has repeatedly penetrated U.S. air defense networks. So far, nearly all U.S. personnel losses in the conflict with Iran have been caused by such drones.

Operators of helicopters and other traditional weapon systems must not only master the skills to shoot down such drones but also learn to defend against their attacks. In June of this year, a "Shahed" drone shot down an "Apache" helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the senior pilots of the 2nd Attack Battalion of the 159th Regiment, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Weiskopf, said, "At that moment, it felt like a real threat, and we had to see how we could respond. This is different from the 'Apache's' conventional missions."

During the exercise, "Apache" pilots performed maneuvers such as tilting and diving over the Bavarian pine forests at the Grafenwoehr training center near Nuremberg.

The "Apache" used 30mm training rounds instead of the explosive rounds that might be used in combat, while also being equipped with missiles and rockets. Its performance remained impressive, with the crew shooting down all four drone targets in a single flight.

In Ukraine, drones have nearly rendered frontline tanks, armored vehicles, and even helicopters "obsolete," and have forced Russia's once-mighty Black Sea Fleet out of the core areas of the Black Sea. Traditional frontlines have transformed into vast and perilous "kill zones," where drones dominate absolutely, and soldiers' survival times are sometimes measured in minutes.

Whether advanced armies like the U.S. will ultimately become embroiled in a drone war similar to that in Ukraine remains a topic of debate. However, almost no U.S. military officials underestimate the impact that drones will have.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in a July 2025 memorandum titled "Unleashing America's Drone Advantage": "Drones are the most significant battlefield innovation in a generation, and most of the casualties on the battlefield in Ukraine this year have been caused by them. The rapid advancement of drone technology presents our greatest challenge: how to mitigate risks."

As part of the anti-drone system, helicopters have proven their value (though there are limits). The Ukrainian military has shot down "Shahed" drones using Soviet-era Mi-8 attack helicopters and has recently attempted to use helicopters as launch platforms to intercept drones against jet drones. Israel has also deployed "Apache" helicopters to counter Iranian drones.

Playing Different Roles

U.S. officials say they envision the "Apache" as a component of an integrated anti-drone system rather than as an independent defensive measure.

However, whether traditional 20th-century defensive measures like the "Apache" can keep pace with rapidly evolving drone technology remains to be seen. An increasing number of drones cost far less than manned aircraft and do not require pilots to take risks, thus possessing capabilities that can rival or even surpass those of manned aircraft.

The latest model of the "Shahed" drone from Russia—the "Shahed"-2—is equipped with a jet engine, flying at speeds far exceeding that of the "Apache."

Chief Warrant Officer Cody Skunoff, the gunner chief of the 2nd Attack Battalion of the 159th Regiment, said, "For us, the real limiting factor is speed. If you put a jet engine on a drone, the helicopter can't catch up."

Pilots acknowledge that in future wars, the "Apache" helicopter will play a different, perhaps more limited role. As demonstrated by the war in Ukraine, helicopters struggle to survive on battlefields saturated with drone attacks.

Weiskopf stated that during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the "Apache" could hover over the battlefield for hours; now, its combat mode has shifted to covert infiltration, destroying targets, and quickly withdrawing.

He said, "Our plan is to keep them away from the front lines." (Translated by Tu Qi)