UAE Hunts Iranian Shahed Drones With AH-64 Apache Using 30mm Cannon Over Persian Gulf.

The United Arab Emirates released footage showing Emirati Air Force AH-64E Apache attack helicopters intercepting and destroying Iranian one-way attack drones over the Persian Gulf using onboard cannons. The incident highlights escalating regional tensions and demonstrates how Gulf states are adapting helicopter-based defenses against growing Iranian drone threats.

Footage released by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence shows AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the Emirati Air Force intercepting and destroying several Iranian Shahed one-way attack drones over the Persian Gulf using the aircraft’s 30 mm M230 chain gun. The video, circulated through official military channels, captures low-altitude engagements against unmanned aerial systems as regional tensions increase and Iranian missile and drone attacks target Gulf states and maritime infrastructure. Emirati authorities presented the intercepts as part of ongoing defensive operations aimed at protecting shipping lanes, offshore energy facilities, and coastal infrastructure in the region.
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AH-64E Apache helicopter of the UAE Air Force engaging Iranian one-way attack drones over the Persian Gulf.(Picture source: Screenshot from UAE Ministry of Defence video edited by Army Recognition.)

The footage illustrates a specific episode within a wider defensive effort conducted by the UAE Armed Forces. Emirati air and missile defense units have reported intercepting numerous incoming threats in recent weeks, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and large numbers of drones launched toward Emirati territory. These engagements form part of a layered defensive posture designed to protect strategic infrastructure, air bases, and major urban centers such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while also securing maritime approaches across the Persian Gulf.

Within that defensive architecture, the use of the AH-64E Apache highlights the growing role of rotary-wing aviation in counter-unmanned aerial system missions. Traditionally associated with anti-armor warfare and close air support, the Apache possesses sensors and fire-control systems that allow it to detect and engage slow aerial targets at short range. The footage shows the helicopter maneuvering at low altitude over open water before firing controlled bursts from its chin-mounted cannon, destroying incoming drones before they approach critical airspace.

The AH-64E Apache Guardian, manufactured by Boeing, represents the latest operational variant of the Apache family. The platform integrates upgraded digital avionics, improved networking architecture, and enhanced data links, allowing it to exchange targeting information with other aircraft and ground-based command systems. A key sensor is the AN/APG-78 Longbow radar, a millimeter-wave fire-control radar mounted above the rotor hub. This radar can detect and track dozens of ground or aerial targets simultaneously and classify them at ranges exceeding several kilometers, even in degraded weather or battlefield obscurants.

Central to the engagement shown in the footage is the helicopter’s M230 Chain Gun. The M230 is a 30 mm electrically driven autocannon firing 30×113 mm ammunition at a cyclic rate of roughly 625 rounds per minute. When paired with the Apache’s helmet-mounted sight system, the gun can be slaved directly to the pilot or gunner’s line of sight, allowing rapid engagement of targets detected visually or through onboard sensors. High-explosive dual-purpose ammunition used by the system is capable of destroying lightly built aerial targets such as unmanned aircraft.

The United Arab Emirates has operated the Apache for several decades, making it one of the most experienced operators of the platform in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi initially acquired AH-64A variants in the 1990s before modernizing its fleet and introducing the AH-64E Guardian standard during the 2010s. The Emirati Air Force currently operates roughly thirty Apache helicopters across its attack aviation units. Several modernization contracts and upgrade programs have been implemented over the past decade, representing investments valued in the billions of dollars. These upgrades include advanced sensors, communication systems, and integration with broader air-defense networks.

Using attack helicopters to intercept drones also reflects an important economic logic. Many Iranian one-way attack drones are relatively inexpensive systems designed to overwhelm defenses through volume. Interceptor missiles such as Patriot PAC-3 or other surface-to-air systems can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per shot, while a drone may cost only a fraction of that amount. Engaging such targets with a helicopter-mounted cannon offers a far more favorable cost exchange ratio. A short burst from the M230 cannon costs dramatically less than a missile interceptor while remaining fully capable of destroying the lightweight structure of most loitering munitions.

Iranian drones such as those derived from the Shahed family, also present specific interception challenges. These aircraft typically fly at relatively low altitude and modest speed, allowing them to approach targets below radar coverage or through terrain clutter. Their small radar cross-section and limited infrared signature complicate early detection, particularly when launched in large numbers. Swarm-style attacks involving dozens of drones can saturate missile defenses and exhaust interceptor stocks, forcing defenders to seek additional layers of protection capable of engaging threats at close range.

The engagement captured in the Emirati footage therefore illustrates a broader adaptation occurring across modern air-defense systems. Armed forces are increasingly integrating aircraft, helicopters, and mobile sensors into layered defensive architectures designed to counter mass drone attacks. In such environments, flexible platforms capable of responding quickly to dispersed targets complement traditional missile systems that remain optimized for high-speed threats.

The Emirati response highlights how Gulf states are adapting to this evolving threat landscape. By combining advanced missile defenses, airborne surveillance, and mobile interception platforms such as attack helicopters, regional militaries are constructing multi-layered defensive networks capable of countering large volumes of low-cost aerial threats. As drone warfare continues to reshape modern conflict, the ability to intercept swarms efficiently while preserving high-value missile inventories may become one of the defining challenges of air defense in the World.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.