IAF's Mi-17 gunship lofting rockets at its target as part of validating operational concepts from conflicts around the globe (Image Source: IAF/ Via X)
The Indian Air Force recently concluded Exercise Rotor Clap III, a comprehensive helicopter operation designed to test and validate its rotary fleet’s capabilities in various combat scenarios. Amidst the varied training drills, close observers noted a particularly interesting development: IAF helicopter crews were seen practicing complex high-angle pitch-up lofting tactics known as “Kabrirovaniye”, distinctly reminiscent of those used in Eastern Europe’s high-intensity conflict zones.
Specifically, IAF Mi-17V5 and potentially Mi-35 attack helicopters were observed executing long-range rocket launches at a high upward angle, from a significant distance behind the front line. The tactics, used extensively by both Ukrainian and Russian forces, involve firing salvos of unguided rockets in a high-parabola trajectory, effectively making them function as imprecise, long-range, area-saturation weapons.
The Logic Behind the High-Angle Launch
The primary driver for this tactical shift is survival against proliferation of MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems). Low-flying helicopters have long been vulnerable, but the abundance of cheap, capable anti-air missiles on modern battlefields means that traditional close air support strafing runs are increasingly perilous, if not impossible. By firing rockets upwards from a safe distance, the helicopter stays well outside the effective engagement zone of shoulder-fired missiles, performing the mission while reducing risk.
Observing Rotor Clap III and the Evolving Battlefield
During Rotor Clap III, IAF crews put this validated tactic through its paces, demonstrating operational agility by rapidly integrating hard-won lessons from foreign conflicts. This successful execution on the test range is a critical step in ensuring the force’s readiness for high-threat environments.
Our take is that helicopter warfare has entered a fundamentally more dangerous and complex phase. The proliferation of MANPADS is only part of the challenge. The battlefield of today is now also defined by the terrifying new threat of drones specifically designed to hunt expensive manned aircraft. This creates an environment that is profoundly complex for helicopter commanders.
Drones, which have been observed tracking and even destroying helicopters on the ground, during takeoff and landing, or even in flight, introduce an unprecedented low-cost asymmetrical threat. This complexity means that helicopter operations now require integrated electronic warfare packages and specific counter-drone strategies to secure even a minimal operating bubble, especially during low-speed, high-vulnerability maneuvers.
A Profoundly Changed Environment
Helicopter warfare is no longer just about mastering terrain or speed; it is now equally about surviving against multiple diffused networks of threats, from individual soldiers to swarms of attack drones. The old rules of direct close air support are being rewritten. The swift adoption by the Indian Air Force is a positive sign of operational adaptability, yet it also underscores the brutal reality that a new, perilous era of rotary warfare has arrived. The skill and courage of pilots remain crucial, but success now demands a level of integrated defense that was unimaginable a decade ago.
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