Aircraft & UAVs

MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator

The MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator is a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment gunship conversion of the UH-60L/MH-60 Black Hawk, trading troop-carrying capacity for modular cannons, rockets, guided missiles, sensors, and night-raid support. Venezuela conflict reporting documents DAP Black Hawks in U.S. special operations use, while also noting that current operational DAPs are MH-60M airframes derived from the same mission configuration.

United States-Venezuela ConflictUnited States

Conflict side: United States
Built by: Sikorsky
Built in: United States

MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator, Special operations gunship helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: MH-60M DAP firing 2.75 inch rockets at a test ground

Profile

Type: Special operations gunship helicopter
Conflict side: United States
Origin: United States
Service note: 1990s DAP conversion; later MH-60M DAP configurations remain in 160th SOAR service

helicopter close air support precision firesspecial operationsunited states

Service History

In service: 160th SOAR special operations gunship role from the 1990s, with later MH-60M DAP configurations in current service
Used by: U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
Wars: United States-Venezuela Conflict

Production History

Designer: Sikorsky; special operations conversion by U.S. Army 160th SOAR programs
Designed: DAP conversion initiated around 1990; early MH-60L DAP conversions in the mid-1990s
Built by: Sikorsky
Built in: United States
Unit cost: Not publicly standardized for the DAP conversion
Produced: UH-60L/MH-60L airframes built before conversion; DAP conversions began in the 1990s
Number built: Limited 160th SOAR conversion subset; exact number not publicly standardized
Variants: MH-60L DAP, MH-60M DAP, COMNAV IDAP

Specifications

Crew: Typically pilot, copilot, and crew chiefs or gunners depending on configuration
Armament: Mission-configurable mix of 30 mm M230 cannon, 70 mm rocket pods, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Stinger ATAS missiles, GAU-19/B .50 caliber gun pods, and 7.62 mm miniguns
Role configuration: Gunship fit removes or limits troop-carrying capacity because cabin space and gross weight are used for weapons and ammunition
Sensors: Forward-looking infrared and targeting sensors; later MH-60M DAPs add advanced terrain-following radar and electro-optical/infrared mission systems
Base airframe: Special operations Black Hawk derivative of the Sikorsky S-70/UH-60 family
Mission profile: Armed escort, direct action support, close fire support, and day, night, or adverse-weather special operations support

Conflict Usage

United States-Venezuela Conflict: Side: United StatesRole: Special operations gunship and close air supportclose air support strike
Reporting on Operation Absolute Resolve identified U.S. 160th SOAR Direct Action Penetrator Black Hawks as used by U.S. forces for close fire support around the Caracas raid; the strongest sources describe current MH-60M DAPs, while this entry covers the MH-60L-origin DAP configuration.

MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator Images

MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator, Special operations gunship helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: MH-60M DAP firing 2.75 inch rockets at a test ground

MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator, Special operations gunship helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: MH-60M DAP firing 2.75 inch rockets at a test ground

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Sources

MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator / AH-60LPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports MH-60L DAP background, mission, conversion history, and modular armament. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 SN. 90-26288 'Super 68' - Razor's EdgePublisher: Army Aviation Museum Foundation | Note: Supports MH-60L DAP service with 160th SOAR, mid-1990s DAP conversion context, and armament. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 MH-60M DAP firing 2.75 inch rockets at a test groundPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army DAP rocket-firing image. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 160th SOAR conducts FARP exercisePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a 160th SOAR MH-60 Black Hawk being loaded with rockets during a forward arming and refueling point exercise. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 This Is What The Night Stalkers' MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator Brought To The Venezuelan OpPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports United States-Venezuela Conflict direct-use context: Direct Action Penetrator Black Hawks were used by U.S. forces in Operation Absolute Resolve, with the source identifying the current aircraft as MH-60M DAPs and describing their close fire support role. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 How the Direct Action Penetrator Helicopter Got Maduro Out of VenezuelaPublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports United States-Venezuela Conflict direct-use context: MH-60 Direct Action Penetrator helicopters were used by U.S. forces during Operation Absolute Resolve, with sourcing limits around the exact MH-60L/M airframe noted in the entry. | Accessed: 2026-06-22