Ukraine has released dramatic footage showing helicopter crews using M134 miniguns and thermal cameras to hunt Russian Shahed drones. The Ukrainian navy published a two-minute montage revealing how chopper-mounted machine guns are becoming a key weapon in defending against Moscow's exploding drones.

Cockpit and gun camera footage shows crews destroying at least five delta-wing drones in flight, with thermal imaging helping operators track and engage targets at night or early morning. The videos demonstrate ideal conditions for downing Shaheds - helicopters must match drone speed and trajectory while gaining altitude to fire downward. Ukraine's commander in chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that helicopters can destroy up to 40% of Russian drones in some areas.

This tactic emerged as Ukraine seeks inexpensive alternatives to traditional antiaircraft missiles for countering Russia's mass-produced Shaheds and Gerbera decoy drones. Helicopter crews can reposition faster than ground-based teams and engage threats at higher altitudes, where Russia often directs its drones to fly above 6,500 feet before attacking. The footage comes months after Ukraine officially incorporated helicopter crews into its air defense network, with thermal and infrared cameras improving effectiveness against Moscow's increasingly sophisticated drone tactics.