Having Problems with Fighting War

Basically, I declared war on a neighbouring c3 (War Level 1) I started my attack by launching an Air Attack Unit at an enemy Heli Defence Wing. Despite my attack unit having a much higher fighting level (between 170.00 and 200.00 off the top of my head, while they were only 120.00) and being a lot bigger in terms of man power (if this counts?) I got shellacked! I lost half my unit with something like 800 dead and 2000 wounded, and they only suffered light casualties (<1000 dead and wounded). What is with that? I'm kind of experienced playing this game but some things (like this!) just escape me, what am I doing wrong/what should I do?

target a town or county not the heli wing lol

If using air force, the interceptors are the first thing to destroy,not helis. Interceptors will defend anything against air attack, and I think 2 wings will respond to an attack on a heli wing whereas 1 wing responds to an attack on a county. Mr. Ryan says town or county because they never have garrisons in a C3.

Good point guys thanks (kinda embarrassed, being an obvious fix) still doesn't explain how a clearly superior attacking unit is utterly defeated by an inferior one. Could anyone shed light on this?

it wasnt the heli wing that destroyed your attacking forces it was the responding interceptors..... take out the interceptors which shouldnt be to hard considering your quality advantage and then attack the helo wings which will not harm your fighters.... and like stephen said attack a county or town

Ok, that makes sense, thanks for the help guys.

Speaking of which, why doesn't a c3 garrison a town or county? Kinda makes it easy to attack when the defenses are light? And how difficult is a War lvl 3 c3?

C3 at higher levels do have garrisons.

It is harder to win against a C3 of war level 3 but not too bad. They have more defense wings, a little more of everything and a slightly higher quality.
You will incurr more damage and casualties but the rewards are higher too.
I don't know how to measure it.

we have seen many C3 wars in much higher war levels and the C3 countries were defeated.

So I get to have a challenge. Good. I was worried that the only challenge I would have would be against human opponents.

tallisbeth your at war level 3 havnt you fought at war level 3 before?