The age of drone warfare brings new battlefield roles for helicopters

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The Pentagon is increasingly looking to helicopters as aerial counter-drone platforms, following years of lessons from global conflicts where uncrewed aircraft have proven to be lethal and cost-effective weapons that have overwhelmed traditional air defense systems.

Starting on June 22, U.S. Air Force reservists from the 301st Rescue Squadron will take a page out of the Ukrainian Air Force’s strategic playbook, rehearsing counter-drone operations using HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, according to a contract notice published last month.

The four-day exercise, though planned for some time, follows the crash of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on June 8. The Apache was reportedly downed by an Iranian Shahed 136, a large, relatively slow-moving drone typically used to target ground infrastructure.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the incident, citing ongoing operations, but helicopters are increasingly being used to intercept Shahed drones in both the Middle East and Ukraine. When asked about the incident, CENTCOM referred The Air Current to President Donald Trump’s social media post which claimed Iran was responsible for bringing down the helicopter as it was on patrol in the Middle East.

The incident highlights the hazard that drones pose to aircraft in their vicinity as well as the need for comprehensive doctrine and training to minimize the risk to helicopter crews performing counter-drone missions. The Pentagon and CENTCOM hope to make progress to close that readiness gap with their latest round of exercises later this month as they look to catch up to their Ukrainian counterparts.