A Colombian National Police (CNP) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was destroyed by a drone on Thursday, killing at least 12 personnel on board. The deadly incident, reported by TWZ, marks the first known drone strike on a helicopter in the Western Hemisphere and underscores a growing global concern about the vulnerability of rotary-wing aircraft to unmanned attacks.
According to Antioquia Governor Andres Julian Rendon, the helicopter was providing security for officers involved in manual coca crop eradication when it was struck. “We have activated the hospital network and are closely monitoring this news, which is so painful for democracy and sad for our Forces. In that area, FARC dissidents and the Gulf Clan are operating,” Rendon said on X.
Video footage from the scene shows the helicopter approaching a landing zone, with the subsequent explosion producing thick black smoke. Another video, reportedly filmed by the attackers, captures the aftermath of the strike. However, neither clearly shows the exact method of the attack.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro blamed the strike, along with a recent car bomb attack on a military base, on dissident factions of the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group. These factions have rejected the 2016 peace agreement that formally ended decades of internal conflict that left more than 450,000 dead.
The attack highlights a worrying trend: helicopters, long considered critical for modern military operations, are increasingly vulnerable to drones and other loitering munitions. TWZ has long warned of this emerging threat, which was first demonstrated in Ukraine, where drones were used to target Russian helicopters, and has since been observed in Asia.
The global implications are already being felt. In South Korea, concerns over helicopter vulnerability contributed to the cancellation of a multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters. Yu Yong-weon, a member of South Korea’s National Assembly, told The Korea Times, “Drones and smart systems are redefining the modern battlefield. Rather than clinging to expensive legacy platforms, we must invest in capabilities that reflect the future of warfare.”
As militaries worldwide reassess the utility of helicopters in contested environments, the Colombian incident serves as a stark reminder of the changing nature of modern combat and the rising threats posed by weaponized drones.
