Colombian Black Hawk Downed by Drone Is a Glimpse of What's to Come
11 hours ago
- #Military
- #Drones
- #Security
- A Colombian National Police UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was downed by a drone, marking the first such incident in the Western Hemisphere.
- The attack occurred while the helicopter was supporting coca crop eradication efforts, with FARC dissidents and the Gulf Clan suspected.
- At least 12 people were killed in the attack, which Colombian President Gustavo Petro attributed to FARC dissidents.
- The incident highlights the growing vulnerability of helicopters to drone attacks, a trend observed globally, including in Ukraine and Asia.
- South Korea canceled a multi-billion-dollar deal for Apache helicopters due to concerns over drone vulnerabilities.
- FPV drones are becoming a significant threat to helicopters, offering a cheap, agile, and precise method of attack.
- Electronic warfare systems are seen as a potential defense, but adaptation has been slow, and some drones are immune to jamming.
- Drug cartels and insurgent groups in Latin America are increasingly using drones, with reports of Russian training for Colombian rebels.
- The U.S. is considering changes to rules of engagement to allow shooting down drones near the border, amid concerns over cartel drone use.
- The global proliferation of weaponized drones is raising alarms, with more attacks on helicopters expected in the future.