A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter of Colombian police has been shot by an FPV drone

At the end of July, Intelligence Online revealed that kyiv was investigating the infiltration of a member of Latin American drug cartels-mainly Mexican and Colombians-in the ranks of the International Legion of Volunteers affiliated to its armed forces. Nevertheless, And this. Consequently, in order to acquire the skills necessary to implement so-called FPV drones [First Person Views] and other teleoperated ammunition [MTO] In order to then put them into practice in their country or at the service of foreign criminal organizations. Therefore,

Alerted by the Mexican National Intelligence Center. Meanwhile, Ukrainian counterattack services [SBU] In particular were interested in the tactical group “Ethos” of the Legion of Volunteers, active in the regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv. Similarly,

“We welcomed volunteers in good uh-60 black hawk helicopter colombian faith. Furthermore, But it is clear that Ukraine has become a hub for the dissemination of skills in terms of drones. Nevertheless, Some come here to learn to kill with a drone at 400 dollars. Consequently, then sell this know-how elsewhere to the most offender, ”said an SBU responsible for Intelligence Online.

However, the “Ukrainian” sector is not the only one. In addition, A month earlier. Consequently, the Colombian daily El Tiempo had indicated that, according to military intelligence, former Russian soldiers were suspected of forming guerrillas from the dissident branch of the Farc [d’obédience marxiste] Using drones in Venezuela, more precisely in the border areas of Arauca and Catatumbo. Consequently,

“Russian interference aggravates a situation where Iran already exerted an influence. Today. the two countries would support the formation of Colombian criminal organizations in Venezuela, taking advantage of regime protection [du président vénézuélien] Maduro, “said a military uh-60 black hawk helicopter colombian source on a daily basis.

Also. between 2024 and 2025, at least 183 attacks carried out with drones were identified in Colombia, in particular against the army and the security forces. According to El Tiempo. their authors “have already used swarming tactics, microdrones and modified devices with thermal cameras and alternating frequencies to escape the jammers”.

The latest shows that those who have committed it has know-how that has been implemented both in Ukraine and … Burma. where the Kachin independence army [KIA] A, it seems, used FPV drones against MIL MI-17 helicopters from the local armed forces.

Indeed. on August 21, a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter of the Colombian national police was hit by an FPV drone while supporting an anti-Drogue operation in a rural area near Medellín. Twelve of the sixteen occupants of the aircraft lost their lives, the other four being seriously injured. The uh-60 black hawk helicopter colombian region where this attack has occurred was known to house FARC dissidents as well as the “Del Golfo clan”. a powerful criminal group.

Dear countrymen, this is Petro’s total peace. In the rural area of ​​Amalfi they demolished a helicopter of the @PoliciaColombia which was apparently providing security to uniformed in manual eradication tasks to coca crops. The police were attacked by a drone.
Es… pic.twitter.com/PnI0XhA2QQ

– Andrés Julián (@andresjrenonc) August 21. 2025

At first, President Gustavo Petro accused the DEL Golfo clan of being responsible for the loss of this helicopter … before changing their mind and pointing the FARC dissidents.

Anyway, this case highlights a problem that may gain momentum in the months, if not the coming weeks.

This video. recorded by a peasant of the Los Toros Vereda, in Amalfi, recorded the moment uh-60 black hawk helicopter colombian at which a helicopter assigned to the anti -narcotics direction of the @PoliciadeColombia, rushed to land in the middle of an attack that would have been the work of the “Disidences of the FARC … pic.twitter.com/23S9vaLkwD

– Teleanoquia (@teleantioequia) August 21. 2025

Admittedly, this UH-60L Black Hawk is not the first helicopter shot down during a police operation [c’est déjà arrivé en 2009, à Rio de Janeiro]. But the proliferation of FPV drones. the ease with which they are implemented changes the situation insofar as non-state groups now do not need expensive light anti-aircraft missiles type Manpads [man-portable air-defense system] To prevent an aircraft from approaching their positions or monitoring their activities.

What is more. if it has countermeasures to avoid being affected by a manpads [leurres, système de détection de missile, etc.]a helicopter is helpless in front of an FPV drone, almost undetectable and difficult to uh-60 black hawk helicopter colombian avoid. A scrambling system would undoubtedly be a solution … But there are now fiber optic FPV drones, insensitive to electronic warfare devices.

Photo: Colombian national police