The DAP helicopter is an extensively redesigned variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk, created specially for night raids and operations in contested airspace such as over Venezuela.

For the recent extraction of Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela—codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve—the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment relied on the MH-60 Direction Action Penetrator (DAP), a Sikorsky S-70 helicopter reconfigured for high-risk extractions and night raids.

What to Know About the MH-60 “DAP” Helicopter

• Year Introduced: Early–mid 1990s (DAP configuration)
• Number Built: Limited (subset of MH-60L/M operated by 160th SOAR)
• Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.8 m) rotor turning
• Rotor Diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.4 m)
• Weight (MTOW): ~22,000 lb (9,980 kg) configuration-dependent
• Engines: Two GE T700-GE-701C/701D turboshafts (≈1,890–2,000 shp each)
• Top Speed: ~180 mph (≈156 kt / 290 km/h)
• Range: ~300 mi (≈260 nmi / 480 km) mission-dependent
• Service Ceiling: ~19,000 ft (5,800 m)
• Sensors: EO/IR targeting system; NVG-optimized cockpit; mission avionics (classified details omitted)
• Armament: Modular—30mm chain gun; 7.62mm or .50 cal machine guns; Hydra 70 rockets (incl. APKWS); AGM-114 Hellfire (config-dependent)
• Aircrew: 2–4 (pilot, copilot, crew chiefs/gunners)

Developed in the 1990s by the 160th SOAR—more commonly known as the “Night Stalkers”—the DAP is built around the MH-60L/M airframe for special operations mission profiles. The purpose of the modified S-70 is to provide organic gunship support to SOF teams and replace reliance on fixed-wing CAS in urban or confined environments. Designed especially for night operations and operations in denied or politically sensitive airspace, the DAP was not built for conventional battlefield use or sustained air combat. 

To be clear, the DAP is a configuration, not a distinct helicopter type. Its key feature is the removal of troop seats in favor of additional weapons and sensors. For sensors, the DAP is outfitted with advanced EO/IR targeting systems and a night vision optimized cockpit. The emphasis on the DAP configuration is placed on precision fire, short engagements, and the ability to provide immediate support to ground teams. 

How Is the DAP Different from the Regular Black Hawk?

The standard Black Hawk is used for troop transport and utility missions. The DAP, meanwhile, does not feature a troop carriage, is instead a dedicated gunship with heavier weapon mounts, enhanced targeting and fire-control systems, and mission-specific avionics. The increased lethality comes with a tradeoff, of course: a reduction in the flexibility the S-70 family is renowned for. 

Tactically, the DAP is used to provide overwatch and escort, typically for missions in which an assault force has been inserted via separate helicopters. The DAP is adept at engaging small arms threats and neutralizing light vehicles and suppressing rooftops and choke points. Operating at low altitude, in close proximity to friendly forces, the DAP is particularly effective in urban environments and on short-duration raids. In a sensitive extraction, as took place in Venezuela on Saturday, DAPs would offer speed and control rather than pure firepower—securing approach corridors, deterring interference, and providing immediate response to emerging threats. The mere presence of the DAP can suppress hostile action, buying critical seconds. And unlike fixed-wing support, DAPs stay with the inserted assault force.

Strategically, the DAP reflects the US preference for surgical force with minimal footprint, enabling action without escalation and precision in politically sensitive missions. Importantly, the DAP reduces reliance on airstrikes or larger formations. However, the DAP is highly specialized and only available in limited numbers, with an effectiveness that depends highly on intelligence, surprise, and integration with ground forces. 

Expect the DAP to remain relevant for the foreseeable future, as the US military has a need to operate in urban environments, a need to extract individuals from politically sensitive environments. In the future, the DAP could receive improved sensors and more precision-guided munitions, to keep the platform current. 

The Maduro extraction is exactly the type of operation that the DAP exists for. And while the operation was far more complicated than a simple helicopter insertion—involving as many as 150 different aircraft in various support roles—the DAP seems to have performed as advertised. 

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

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