These aircraft helped provide combat support, transportation, and carried out the evacuation of wounded soldiers from hard-to-reach areas. The lives of many wounded Lithuanian soldiers were saved precisely by such medical evacuation helicopters. At that time, Lithuanian soldiers could only dream that the Lithuanian Vytis Cross could appear on such a technological achievement. Today, this has become a reality. American UH-60M helicopters will finally replace the old, often malfunctioning Mi-8 helicopters used in our army so far this year.
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“Black Hawk” reached Lithuania at a time when it seems all attention is focused on drones. They destroy expensive tanks, naval drones sink warships, and reconnaissance UAVs transmit information to artillery in real time. All this created the impression that traditional military aviation is losing its significance. However, such an assessment would be too simplistic. Drones have changed the battlefield, but they have not replaced helicopters, transport aviation, fighters, or air defense. Lithuania’s defense as a NATO member should be viewed comprehensively.
“Black Hawk” – more than a means of transport
It is a special event for the Lithuanian Air Force that American UH-60M “Black Hawk” helicopters are already flying in Lithuania. These helicopters are often presented as a means of transporting soldiers, but their capabilities are much broader. The “Black Hawk” can:
- carry eleven fully equipped soldiers in one flight;
- perform medical evacuation: fits 4-6 stretchers;
- transport ammunition and supplies weighing up to 4,100 kg;
- deploy special operations forces;
- provide support to infantry from the air;
- conduct search and rescue missions;
- assist civil authorities during natural disasters;
- extinguish fires;
- urgently transport donor organs;
It is a versatile aircraft used by more than 30 countries, including the US, which manufactures helicopters. The “Black Hawk” will ensure better interoperability with our neighboring countries Poland, Sweden, Denmark, and Latvia, which have also acquired and successfully use this type of aircraft. Only our ally, the US military, operates thousands of these helicopters, so their logistics, spare parts supply, and crew training are well developed.
Lithuania is not a large country, so its defense requires very rapid response. In case of war, roads can be quickly damaged, bridges destroyed, and civilian traffic disrupted, so acquiring helicopters is a very necessary decision. They allow quickly strengthening the border area, transferring special operations forces, evacuating civilians, or delivering ammunition to isolated units. This is especially important in defending the Suwałki corridor or ensuring communication between different regions of Lithuania.
Drones and aviation – not competitors
NATO military analysts emphasize that drones should not be considered a substitute for traditional aviation. They perform different functions. Drones are excellent for reconnaissance, target search, artillery fire correction, precise strikes with small munitions, but they cannot transport an infantry squad, evacuate the wounded, carry tons of ammunition, ensure long-term unit supply, or quickly redeploy military units.
The best approach is to combine traditional aviation and drone capabilities, creating so-called “manned–unmanned teaming,” where piloted aircraft and drones operate as one system. Drones find targets, destroy them, or transmit necessary information, while helicopters or other aircraft perform different or more complex tasks.
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If drones had truly replaced traditional aviation, NATO countries would be reducing investments in helicopters today. However, the opposite process is happening. Poland has ordered dozens of new AH-64E “Apache” attack helicopters and is expanding its “Black Hawk” fleet. Germany is acquiring CH-47F “Chinook” heavy transport helicopters. The United Kingdom is modernizing its “Wildcat” and “Merlin” fleets. Finland and Sweden are also not reducing investments in military aviation, although they are rapidly expanding drone systems. This shows a general trend – the most advanced NATO countries do not abandon traditional aviation but complement it with new technologies.
Not to bet everything on one technology
In wartime conditions, it is necessary not only to observe the battlefield, destroy individual targets, but also to move quickly, adapt to new situations, rapidly rescue wounded soldiers, and supply fighting troops. Such missions cannot be carried out by drones alone. The US analytical center RAND Corporation has repeatedly emphasized that wars often disappoint attempts to declare one technology the solution to all problems.
Tanks did not eliminate artillery, missiles did not eliminate aviation, and drones will not eliminate piloted aircraft. Similar positions are held by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. Its experts, analyzing the war in Ukraine, emphasize that the greatest advantage is gained by those armies that can integrate drones, air defense, artillery, and aviation into one functioning system, rather than investing in only one capability. Again, complexity is emphasized.
Lithuania plans to allocate 5–6% of GDP to defense in the coming years. Such investments provide the opportunity not only to acquire more drone systems but also to consistently strengthen the military air forces – expand the helicopter fleet, modernize infrastructure, train pilots and technical personnel, and employ new technologies.
The discussion should not be only about what is more important in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine – drones or traditional aviation. Without doubting the Ukrainian experience in war, let us learn from their achievements, but what was relevant yesterday may no longer be relevant tomorrow. The true strength of the state lies in the ability to coordinate different capabilities into one functioning system together with allies and act jointly.
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