Japan is ditching its attack helicopters in another sign that one of the most important modern military weapons is losing its luster

• Japan's army is planning to replace its attack and observation helicopters with drone aircraft.
• Helicopter are valuable, but they also have vulnerabilities — dozens have been downed in Ukraine.
• The losses and Japan's decision may lead other militaries to rethink the role of their helicopters.

Attack helicopters have earned a reputation as one of the deadliest weapons on the battlefield, but Japan's military thinks it can do without them.