Before launches at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Helicopters search the downrange path of rockets to find any nomads in the vast grasslands of Kazakhstan. Â If any are found they are warned of the upcoming launches.
This picture of this activity was particularly interesting:
(image from russianspaceweb.com, copyright noted)
The americans launch with ocean downrange. and a similar search is performed for boats that are in the wrong spot.