Attack Helicopters Must Hunt the Hunters

Army attack helicopters face an existential crisis, as they are often grounded in any area with active enemy air defenses, making them dependent on other forces to clear the skies. This cautious approach stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of surface-to-air missiles, which are limited by line-of-sight and can be evaded by low-flying aircraft using terrain for cover. To remain relevant, helicopter units must become hunters themselves by adopting the suppression of enemy air defenses as a core mission. New long-range weapons like the Spike missile enable this shift, allowing crews to destroy threats from a safe distance and secure their own role on the future battlefield.