A pair of Mi-24 attack helicopters firing S-8 rockets at Russian targets and retreating while activating countermeasures. 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade, September 2024.
A pair of Mi-24 attack helicopters firing S-8 rockets at Russian targets and retreating while activating countermeasures. 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade, September 2024.
Why do they continue to launch rockets this way using helicopters and not start using the economical method of launching rockets from pickup trucks with improvised launchers? Because the air support mission is still necessary, even if it is carried out in a manner far from ideal. When an emergency occurs at the front and the infantry units are not well prepared or have suffered heavy losses, when the mortars or rocket launchers in the region are low on stocks, or when there are no tanks in a region of the front. A Russian attack can advance by taking advantage of the disorganization of the frontline sector, and to prevent this an immediate response will be necessary. The redeployment of tanks and ammunition takes many hours or even days depending on the situation. But an aviation brigade can make several flights per day to a sector of the frontline, firing up to 80 rockets on each trip if they are operating in pairs. This will serve to buy time until the situation is reestablished. The same is done with the Su-25, which is also no longer able to carry out its direct attack missions due to anti-aircraft defenses, but continues to provide air support in this less efficient but still necessary way. The result of the helicopter attack’s depends on the amount and type of rockets, but is something like this: [video ](https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/s/OEzbxLxkyt)
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Why do they continue to launch rockets this way using helicopters and not start using the economical method of launching rockets from pickup trucks with improvised launchers? Because the air support mission is still necessary, even if it is carried out in a manner far from ideal. When an emergency occurs at the front and the infantry units are not well prepared or have suffered heavy losses, when the mortars or rocket launchers in the region are low on stocks, or when there are no tanks in a region of the front. A Russian attack can advance by taking advantage of the disorganization of the frontline sector, and to prevent this an immediate response will be necessary. The redeployment of tanks and ammunition takes many hours or even days depending on the situation. But an aviation brigade can make several flights per day to a sector of the frontline, firing up to 80 rockets on each trip if they are operating in pairs. This will serve to buy time until the situation is reestablished. The same is done with the Su-25, which is also no longer able to carry out its direct attack missions due to anti-aircraft defenses, but continues to provide air support in this less efficient but still necessary way. The result of the helicopter attack’s depends on the amount and type of rockets, but is something like this: [video ](https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/s/OEzbxLxkyt)