Updated October 20, 2026
The Bomb Drone encounter in Modern Warfare 4's Stranded mission can be tricky when an enemy helicopter attacks the Jamming Tower. You must secure the enemy's drone technology, find the correct equipment, and guide an explosive drone toward the helicopter before escaping the collapsing structure.
This guide explains how to get the Bomb Drone, use its PC controls, complete the helicopter encounter, and survive the tower collapse.
Quick Answer: How to Destroy the Helicopter in Stranded
To destroy the helicopter in Stranded:
- Reach the Jamming Tower and eliminate the enemy drone operator.
- Collect the Drone Operator Tablet to unlock drone use.
- Find a dark green chest containing a Bomb Drone and equip it.
- Open the Jamming Equipment Panel at the top of the tower.
- Launch the Bomb Drone and fly toward the attacking helicopter.
- Detonate near the helicopter. If it survives, prepare a follow-up strike.
- When the tower collapses, press Space to deploy your parachute.
Important: Select the Bomb Drone rather than the Scout Drone. The flight controls only apply after you enter the drone's operating view.
How to Get the Bomb Drone
You need to acquire the enemy's drone equipment before attempting to destroy the helicopter. Follow the mission objective through the plateau and toward the Jamming Tower.
1. Reach the Jamming Tower
Fight through the surrounding compound and approach the building beside the tower. The main road is exposed, so watch for enemy soldiers as you move forward.
The Heartbeat Sensor can help you identify nearby enemies. Use it to check the area while advancing toward the building.
Clear the hostile positions inside, then continue toward the tower.
2. Secure the Drone Operator Tablet
Locate the enemy drone operator in the tower's control room and eliminate him. Collect the Drone Operator Tablet from his position.
The game displays a notification confirming that you have acquired the tablet and can now use drones.
After collecting it, follow the updated objective to acquire the enemy's Bomb Drones.
3. Find and Equip a Bomb Drone
Look for a dark green chest on the upper tower platform. The game identifies dark green chests as places where Bomb Drones can be found.
When you locate a chest containing the device, use the displayed interaction prompt to equip it.
Don't confuse the Bomb Drone with the Scout Drone. The Bomb Drone carries the explosive payload needed for the helicopter encounter, while the Scout Drone serves a different purpose.
Once the Bomb Drone is available, proceed to the Jamming Equipment Panel.
Bomb Drone Controls on PC
The Bomb Drone's flight HUD displays three main controls.
| Action | PC Control |
|---|---|
| Descend | CTRL |
| Ascend | SPACE |
| Detonate | Left mouse button |
The equip or deployment prompt is separate from these flight controls. Follow the on-screen instruction to enter drone view before attempting to steer it.
How to Fly the Bomb Drone
- Descend — CTRL: Lower the drone's altitude.
- Ascend — SPACE: Raise the drone to adjust its approach.
- Detonate — Left mouse button: Trigger the explosive payload.
Use the altitude controls to line up your approach toward the helicopter. Once you are close enough to attack, detonate the drone.
If the helicopter moves while you are approaching, make small adjustments rather than spending too long circling it.
How to Destroy the Helicopter
1. Open the Jamming Equipment Panel
Follow the objective to open the Jamming Equipment Panel at the top of the tower. It is positioned in the center of the upper platform.
Interact with the panel when prompted. Opening it triggers the helicopter encounter, and the incoming aircraft begins attacking your position.
Kal tells Park to use a Bomb Drone against the helicopter.
2. Equip and Launch the Bomb Drone
Select the Bomb Drone and use the displayed equipment prompt to launch it.
If the wrong drone is selected, switch to the Bomb Drone before attempting the attack. Once the drone is active, use the flight HUD to control its altitude and guide it toward the helicopter.
3. Approach and Detonate
Fly toward the helicopter, adjusting the drone's height with CTRL and SPACE.
When the drone is close enough to the aircraft, press the left mouse button to detonate the payload.
After the first successful strike, check the helicopter's condition and listen to Kal's dialogue. The aircraft may take damage without being destroyed immediately.
4. Finish the Attack
If the helicopter remains airborne, prepare another attack with an available Bomb Drone. Fly toward the aircraft and detonate again.
Once the helicopter is destroyed, it loses control and crashes into the Jamming Tower. The impact causes the structure to collapse, immediately shifting the encounter from combat to survival.
Why One Bomb Drone Hit May Not Be Enough
Don't assume that the helicopter must explode after the first detonation.
After the initial strike, Kal reports that the aircraft is taking damage and calls for another hit. He also indicates that one more hit should bring it down.
If the helicopter survives:
- Check whether it is still airborne and attacking.
- Follow Kal's instructions and prepare another strike.
- Select another available Bomb Drone if necessary.
- Continue until the helicopter is destroyed.
The demonstrated encounter uses a first successful strike followed by a finishing strike. Treat this as the observed sequence rather than a guaranteed hit count for every possible run.
How to Escape the Collapsing Tower
The helicopter's crash causes the Jamming Tower to shake and collapse. Park is thrown into free fall, and you must deploy the parachute to survive.
1. Deploy Your Parachute
Watch for the on-screen prompt:
SPACE — DEPLOY PARACHUTE
Press Space when the prompt appears and you can control Park's descent. Don't waste time trying to continue fighting during the collapse sequence.
2. Guide Your Descent
After deploying the parachute, steer toward the snowy landing area.
The HUD also displays C — CUT PARACHUTE. This cuts the parachute, so avoid pressing it while you still need it to slow your fall.
Continue steering toward the landing area until Park reaches the ground.
3. Decide How to Continue
After landing, Kal checks on Park and confirms that the jammer has been destroyed. He then offers to return with him.
The game presents two options: head there independently later or go together using fast travel.
Choose the option that best suits how you want to continue exploring Stranded.
Bomb Drone Troubleshooting
If you have trouble using the Bomb Drone, check the relevant step below before restarting the mission.
The Bomb Drone Will Not Equip
Check that you have completed the equipment prerequisites:
- Eliminate the enemy drone operator.
- Collect the Drone Operator Tablet.
- Find a chest containing a Bomb Drone.
- Select the Bomb Drone and follow the displayed equip prompt.
Having the Scout Drone available does not mean you have selected the explosive drone required for the helicopter encounter.
The Drone Launches but Misses the Helicopter
Once you enter drone view, use the altitude controls to adjust your approach.
- Press SPACE to ascend.
- Press CTRL to descend.
- Fly toward the helicopter before detonating.
Try to get close to the aircraft before triggering the payload. If the first attack only damages the helicopter, prepare a follow-up strike.
The Helicopter Survives the Explosion
Check whether Kal confirms that the helicopter is taking damage. If he calls for another hit, continue the attack rather than assuming the encounter has failed.
Use another available Bomb Drone and repeat the approach if necessary.
The Bomb Drone Will Not Deploy at All
First, confirm that the Bomb Drone has been collected and selected. Then check the current on-screen equipment prompt and your control settings.
The flight controls listed in this guide apply after the drone is active; they do not replace the separate equipment-selection or deployment input.
If the equipment appears correctly selected but still will not deploy, consider reloading a checkpoint only after checking the simpler possibilities. A checkpoint reload is a general last resort, not a confirmed fix for every deployment problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you find the Bomb Drone in Stranded?
Look for a dark green chest on the upper Jamming Tower platform. You must first collect the Drone Operator Tablet to unlock drone use.
What are the Bomb Drone controls on PC?
Press CTRL to descend, SPACE to ascend, and the left mouse button to detonate. Use the separate on-screen prompt to equip or deploy the drone.
How many Bomb Drone hits does the helicopter take?
The demonstrated encounter uses a successful first strike followed by a finishing strike. If the helicopter survives your first attack, follow Kal's dialogue and prepare another strike.
Can you use the Scout Drone to destroy the helicopter?
The Scout Drone and Bomb Drone serve different purposes. The Bomb Drone is the explosive device recommended for this encounter.
What happens after you destroy the helicopter?
The helicopter crashes into the Jamming Tower, causing the structure to collapse. Deploy your parachute when prompted and steer toward the snowy landing area.
What should you check if the Bomb Drone will not deploy?
Confirm that you have collected the Drone Operator Tablet and a Bomb Drone. Make sure the correct equipment is selected and follow the displayed prompt. If the problem persists, check your control settings before considering a checkpoint reload.
Final Tips
The key to completing this Stranded encounter is preparing the correct equipment before attacking the helicopter. Collect the Drone Operator Tablet, find a Bomb Drone, and learn the flight controls before opening the Jamming Equipment Panel.
If the helicopter survives the first hit, use Kal's dialogue to guide your next move. After the aircraft crashes into the tower, focus on the parachute prompt and escape the collapsing structure.
For more Modern Warfare 4 coverage, see our guide to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ — Gunsmith Discount and Weapon Build Costs.
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