Are Attack Helicopters dead?

[Zaphod58]

Only against village-level opponents. If you have the technological upper hand and are fighting aborigonees youve got quite the chance.

Even against modern IADs helicopters still have a role to play. Radar and sensors can't see around mountains, or down in clutter very well with a slow moving target. They're going to have a role to play for years to come, although it will be reduced over time as range becomes an issue.

[Bizup]

Even against modern IADs helicopters still have a role to play. Radar and sensors can't see around mountains, or down in clutter very well with a slow moving target. They're going to have a role to play for years to come, although it will be reduced over time as range becomes an issue.

AI/remote control drones can outperform helicopters without risking the operator's life, this will only improve over time, making any manned military vehicle eventually obsolete.

[Zaphod58]

AI/remote control drones can outperform helicopters without risking the operator's life, this will only improve over time, making any manned military vehicle eventually obsolete.

We're barely into AI technology, but sure it's already made the military obsolete. Let's just retire everything manned, and get rid of any troops and go completely AI.

[Maxmars]

AI/remote control drones can outperform helicopters without risking the operator's life, this will only improve over time, making any manned military vehicle eventually obsolete.

I have to disagree.

All we have are hallucinating LLMs, and PR money... that's not "AI."

Now remote controlled is another matter entirely.

But then, drones can't occupy, fortify, or actually 'seize' a position.

At least... so far as I have seen.

I always thought - contextually speaking - Tactics are about flexibility in use and deployment.

They are the brushstroke to the painting.

[Blackfingers]

Loiter time,sensor range and ordinance load.
Cargo weight,mobilty,speed.
A lot of things to consider.History is a great teacher.

[Avicula]

I can clearly recall instances in my lifetime (I am 48) when it has been announced that Tanks were obsolete, aircraft carriers were obsolete, fast airplanes were obsolete, stealth airplanes were obsolete, manned surface vessels were obsolete, ICBMs were obsolete, Humans were obsolete (in terms of combat effectiveness), camouflage (both on vehicles and those obsolete humans) was obsolete, AWACS was obsolete, both the M-4 and 1911 were obsolete… and sadly, I could keep going. 

Things only become truly obsolete when people stop trying to use them in new or novel ways, or they have a somewhat misguided view of the reality on the ground or, in this case, the air. We also need to remember that bleeding edge technology is often prohibitively expensive and more importantly, unproven. 

Helicopters have had shortcomings since the first time da Vinci sketched the first Aerial Screw. I just don’t see attack helicopters being much different than main battle tanks these days. Just like the people operating them, they ARE vulnerable to countermeasures, but still delivering such badly needed capabilities in combat that humans can’t do without them.

[Sky727]

The U.S. Army is cutting Apache units and thousands of aviation jobs as it pivots toward drones and “manned-unmanned teaming.” But does that mean attack helicopters are becoming obsolete, or just changing roles? In this video, we break down what’s driving the Apache cuts, what the Army thinks will replace that capability, and what the war in Ukraine is actually teaching militaries about helicopters, drones, air defenses, and survivability. We also look at the Army’s post-FARA plans, autonomous helicopter concepts like the U-Hawk, and why the Apache may still have a future, just not the one it was built for. 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - Ad Read 02:12 - A tough year for Army aviators 04:09 - Rise of the Machines 07:39 - Helicopter are still in the fight 15:32 - Channel Updates