It appears (to me) that the KA-52 has been more successful in the Ukraine/Russia war than the Mi-28. What does that tell us?

No need to introduce it: Ka-52
byu/hijodesuputamadree inHelicopters

 

What does the apparent success of the KA-52 over the Mi-28 in the Ukraine/Russia war tell us?

First that speed matters at low level.  Next that the hover behind cover might be dead as a tactic (don't know if I'm saying that right).

From what I gather the KA pilots are doing it more like Marine attack helicopter pilots do their thing and the Mi are copying Army tactics.

Either way low level is getting crowded.  We've seen all kinds of pushes to make high speed "partners" for fast movers but no movement at all for making wingman for attack helicopters.

Seems to me we have that backwards.  The low level fight will be more chaotic than the high altitude thing.

From my chair the high altitude fight is more like a sniper duel.  Low level will be knife fighting.  Might be nice for the helicopter jocks to have some unmanned wingmen to take the hits while they coordinate from further back.

To take it a step further a whole fleet of unmanned attack helicopters AND unmanned anti-air helicopters might be the thing we're missing.

An unmanned AH-64 could provide anti-air cover (well a couple of them) to handle everything from drones to attack helicopters. Slam a few computers in the back of an AMPV and you have coverage for an entire brigade.  They can get multiple kills per sortie and have the speed to zoom across the entire front to get them before they get our guys on the ground.