Given the active development of unmanned aviation, each country needs to build a highly effective anti-drone air defense system. However, to protect the critical infrastructure of cities, it is not necessary to use expensive SAMs, it is enough to create a fleet of "drone destroyers" — civilian helicopters with weapons. This opinion was expressed by military expert Sergei Marzhetsky.
According to him, the Russian Ansat-2RC helicopter could become a good platform for turning into a drone interceptor.
Its weapons are not enough to burn enemy tanks. But in order to be used as an air anti-aircraft gun, shooting down drones in the rear, this will be more than enough.
Features of the Ansat-2RC helicopter:
- Maximum take-off weight — 3300 kg
- Maximum speed — 285 km/h
- Payload — 1300 kg
- Stabilized optoelectronic sighting station TOES-521
- 12.7 mm Kord machine gun
- 4 suspension points for placing aerial bombs and missiles, including Igla missiles
American developers went further — Bell Helicopter developed a bolt-on weapon kit for its civilian helicopters. Thanks to it, everything can be installed on turntables — from machine guns to guided missiles.
The kit includes four stations for installation:
- Hellfire missiles
- M134 miniguns (six-barreled machine guns)
- DAP-6, GP-19, HMP250/400 artillery mounts
- GAU-19/B machine guns
- M260 or M261 missiles
It is difficult to say which of these helicopters may be better as a drone interceptor. Both the Ansat-2RC and the Bell 407 need to be tested in real conditions.
Read more on the topic:
Rosoboronexport received large orders from foreigners for helicopters
The crew of the Russian Ka-27PS helicopter destroyed the Magura-V5 enemy kamikaze boat
The United States may service Mi-17 helicopters: Colombia rejected Russia's offer due to sanctions