Panzer fighters in the air
Russia’s “Alligator” helicopter causes problems for Ukrainians
06/22/2023, 12:50 p.m
In the heavily contested Zaporizhia region, Russia is strengthening its air presence with several helicopters – with success. The “Alligator” is even said to be responsible for the losses of western tanks. For Ukraine, the lack of air defense is a major shortcoming.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the BBC admitted that the Ukrainian counteroffensive was proceeding “slower than desired”. In Zaporizhia in particular, the Ukrainian troops encountered fierce resistance. The reason why the offensive is progressing so slowly there could be due to a Russian advantage in airspace: Russia had already increased its use of attack helicopters at the beginning of the offensive, writes the British Ministry of Defense.
Satellite images show that more than 20 additional helicopters have been stationed at Berdyansk Airport, about 100 kilometers behind the front. According to one, Russia has a total of 27 operational helicopters report by the “Institute for the Study of War” (ISW) on June 14. Among them are said to be nine Mi-8 or Mi-24 helicopters and thirteen Ka-29 helicopters, as well as five Ka-52 helicopters.
The Ka-52, also called “Alligator” helicopter, is a Russian-made reconnaissance and attack helicopter. It allows the Russians to attack Ukrainian tanks from the air. According to the Financial Times, the helicopter is said to have been responsible, among other things, for the sensational attack on a tank column of the Ukrainian 47th Brigade. Several Ukrainian tanks, including three US Bradley M2 tanks, were badly damaged.
Reisner: Ukraine is plagued by a major shortage in airspace
The “Alligator” can launch different types of rockets. Compared to other helicopters, it has the greatest range at eight to ten kilometers. According to the Ukrainian secret service, such a helicopter costs around 16 million US dollars (approx. 16.2 million euros).
The success of the Russian troops results from the interaction between the air force and the land force, says Colonel Markus Reisner in an interview with ntv.de. Instead of just “putting tank columns in motion”, the attacks are accompanied by attack helicopters, which fire missiles at the Ukrainians from a great distance. On the Ukrainian side, on the other hand, there is a major shortcoming in the airspace. “There is a lack of powerful air forces and anti-aircraft defenses,” said the military expert.
The attack helicopters used by the Russians can attack Ukrainian columns from a distance of eight kilometers. Ukraine therefore needs anti-aircraft defenses to protect its own troops and prevent the helicopters from attacking them before they even get where they are supposed to attack. According to Reisner, this is a dilemma for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maljar had also spoken of “air superiority of the Russian troops” in the south. From London it is said that the Russians are therefore superior in the “constant competition of measures and countermeasures”.