Since the start of the war with Russia, Ukraine has mainly insisted on acquiring artillery systems, heavy tanks, increasing its air defense capabilities and acquiring fighter aircraft of Russian origin from the US and other NATO member countries.
The Air Force of Ukraine
Kiev has also been vocal about its Air Force needs, even though the United States provided it with Russian Mil Mi-17 helicopters previously acquired for the Afghan National Army, and the United Kingdom did the same, giving three (3) Westland WS-61 Sea Kings withdrawn from service, as reported by a reputable French defense media outlet, noting:
"The General Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense GUR, announced last February that it received a UH-60 "Black Hawk" helicopter, which was acquired by the American company Ace Aeronautics LLC, which was not delivered as part of the military assistance provided by Washington, D.C., and can be equipped with a WESCAM optronic, Hellfire missiles and an M134 Gatling gun.
"The Air Force of Ukraine continues to work on the front lines of our country's defense. Perform frontline combat missions. Combat helicopters significantly increase the capabilities of special units and the effectiveness of special operations,” GUR argued at the time.
However, it is estimated that Kiev should not be long in requesting Black Hawks helicopters, as well as other types such as the AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook, from its Western backers.
Ukrainians request Black Hawk-AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the West
Broadcasting a video showing training with its UH-60, the Ukrainian air force said it "can easily accommodate a hundred Black Hawk multi-role helicopters," as well as about "50 Apache attack helicopters and 40 to 60 heavy-duty transport helicopters." Chinook."
In any case, this is what the Directorate of Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports.
Unlike the fighter jets claimed by Kiev, he assures us that training Ukrainian pilots would not be a problem.
"Having experience using the Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters, we were able to fly the Black Hawk the first day we received it," said one of them. And to point out that it is much more flexible than the Mi-8″ and that its performance is higher.
Before the start of the war, the Ukrainian forces had one hundred Soviet helicopters.
In 2019, Kiev had considered acquiring AH-64 Apaches to replace the Mil Mi-24 "Hind", the availability of which was then very low, due to the lack of ability to source spare parts from Russia.
At the time, Ukrainian officials relied on the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, which makes it possible to transfer surpluses from the U.S. military to allied and partner countries.
What will change on the business front?
From the above we understand that the receipt of the above helicopters from Ukraine will dramatically upgrade the operational capabilities of its Land Army, increasing the probability of successfully carrying out the major offensive that Kiev has been diligently preparing for a long time.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, thanks to their HELFIRE anti-tank missiles, can be a mass killer of Russian tanks-TOMA-TOMBs, while thanks to the Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook, it becomes possible to carry out airborne operations even deep in the rear of the a line from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In general, the supply of these helicopters from Ukraine has the potential to change the conditions on the battlefield in favor of Kiev.
