This Is What The Night Stalkers’ MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator Brought To The Venezuelan Op

This Is What The Night Stalkers’ MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator Brought To The Venezuelan Op

Thomas Newdick

Mon, January 5, 2026 at 11:02 PM UTC

11 min read

U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment approach Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic during a forward arming and refueling point exercise, MCOLF Atlantic, May 6, 2025. U.S. Army Soldiers and aircraft from the 160th SOAR utilized MCAS Cherry Point’s training area to conduct a FARP. This training is essential for enhancing the unit’s operational readiness and ensuring efficient support for rapid deployment, as Cherry Point provides the facilities and resources to simulate real world scenarios.

In the aftermath of the high-profile capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro by the United States, the participation by the Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) version of the U.S. Army’s MH-60M Black Hawk has thrust one of the most intriguing Special Operations Command (SOCOM) assets into the spotlight. These aircraft are the heavier-hitting gunships of the U.S. Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), better known as the Night Stalkers, and Venezuela was exactly the kind of mission for which they are intended to fly, in support of a direct action mission and assault team.

TWZ readers can otherwise get up to speed on the details that are known so far about the operation in our initial reporting here and here.

Heavily armed attack versions of the H-60 Black Hawk family have been used by a variety of nations through the years. However, the specially adapted DAPs flown by the 160th SOAR are undoubtedly the best equipped, even in comparison to the regiment’s standard MH-60s, which are used primarily as transports, and are extremely capable in their own right.

A UH-60L Direct Action Penetrator after its induction into the U.S. Army Aviation Museum collection in late 2013. This aircraft was assigned throughout its entire service life to the 160th SOAR, having undergone many upgrades over the years. It was one of the first aircraft in the regiment to undergo the conversion to a DAP in the mid-1990s. <em>U.S. Army</em> — A UH-60L Direct Action Penetrator after its induction into the U.S. Army Aviation Museum collection in late 2013. This aircraft was assigned throughout its entire service life to the 160th SOAR, having undergone many upgrades over the years. It was one of the first aircraft in the regiment to undergo the conversion to a DAP in the mid-1990s. *U.S. Army*

The 160th SOAR has been operating the tricked-out DAP versions of the Black Hawk since at least 1990, with a primary mission of armed escort and fire support. Currently, the unit only operates the MH-60M version. These are flown alongside the M/AH-6M Little Bird, which also have a gunship configuration, and the MH-47G Chinook; the latter type was also employed in Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela.

Several videos have emerged from Operation Absolute Resolve showing the MH-60M DAP in action, including reportedly during the assault on Fort Tiuna in Caracas, which you can read more about here. This footage has also been identified by some accounts as showing U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Vipers, but it was a DAP. These aircraft are meant to work very close to their targets, with the signature combined strafe and rocket barrage being a primary tactic.

Footage of a U.S. helicopter firing rockets at a ground target in Caracas, Venezuela tonight. pic.twitter.com/5F81gePPin
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 3, 2026

Likely a DAP
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) January 3, 2026

Footage shows a United States Marine Corps (USMC) AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter engaging ground targets with gun and rocket fire in Caracas, Venezuela. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and flown out of… pic.twitter.com/bPYWXI8Gbr
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) January 3, 2026

A video showing the DAP in action in Afghanistan, using guns and rockets:

In the broadest terms, the current DAP configuration allies a special operations MH-60M with stub wings for an expanded array of ordnance. These wings can be configured with one or two hardpoints on each side. It’s also worth noting that the MH-60M aircraft are dual-role; each one can be converted back into a transport helo from a DAP configuration in a couple of hours or less. This provides a lot of contingency capability in a single aircraft.

A 160th SOAR MH-60 in Direct Action Penetrator configuration. <em>Raven Harris</em> — A 160th SOAR MH-60 in Direct Action Penetrator configuration. *Raven Harris*

In terms of armament, the DAPs can carry a combination of 70mm rockets, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Stinger ATAS (air-to-air missiles), GAU-19/B 50-cal machine guns, and 30mm M230 cannons. The M230 is the same gun found on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. In addition, the DAP has a pair of 7.62mm Miniguns that can be locked in a forward-firing mode to add to the firepower. The 70mm rockets include Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) versions, with laser guidance, allowing the DAPs to strike with extreme precision.

The particular configuration seen in the photos below is known as COMNAV IDAP and is typical of how the DAP appeared in Afghanistan in 2012:

A 19-shot pod for 70mm rockets and a forward-firing 7.62mm Minigun on a Direct Action Penetrator. <em>U.S. Army</em> — A 19-shot pod for 70mm rockets and a forward-firing 7.62mm Minigun on a Direct Action Penetrator. *U.S. Army*

A 30mm M230 cannon and another Minigun on the opposite side of the same helicopter. <em>U.S. Army</em> — A 30mm M230 cannon and another Minigun on the opposite side of the same helicopter. *U.S. Army*

The stores-carrying ability of the 160th’s MH-60Ms has been refined through the introduction of all-new lightweight wings, known as the Multi-Station Lightweight Armament Support Structure (MLASS). These are lighter than the older sponsons and easier for troops to install and remove as necessary. The older ESSS wings and single pylon wings are also available.

A 160th SOAR MH-60M in the Direct Action Penetrator configuration using the Multi-Station Lightweight Armament Support Structure (MLASS) stub wings. Hellfire missiles, as well as rocket pods and a 30mm M230 automatic cannon, are seen loaded on the pylons. <em>United Composites</em> — A 160th SOAR MH-60M in the Direct Action Penetrator configuration using the Multi-Station Lightweight Armament Support Structure (MLASS) stub wings. Hellfire missiles, as well as rocket pods and a 30mm M230 automatic cannon, are seen loaded on the pylons. *United Composites*

Aside from the weapons capabilities of the DAP version, the baseline MH-60M is absolutely packed with specialized avionics and systems vital for its critical missions, which are typically flown under the most demanding conditions and primarily at night. Among the most important of these systems are a terrain following radar and a sensor turret with day and night-vision cameras, which we will come back to shortly. Having the same avionics also means the DAP is able to penetrate to the same places as the other 160th SOAR aircraft they are tasked to support.

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment loads rockets into a MH-60 Black Hawk during a forward arming and refueling point exercise at Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic, May 6, 2025. U.S. Army Soldiers and aircraft from the 160th SOAR utilized MCAS Cherry Point’s training area to conduct a FARP. This training is essential for enhancing the unit’s operational readiness and ensuring efficient support for rapid deployment, as Cherry Point provides the facilities and resources to simulate real world scenarios (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Williams) — A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment loads rockets into a MH-60 Black Hawk during a forward arming and refueling point exercise at Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic, May 6, 2025. U.S. Army Soldiers and aircraft from the 160th SOAR utilized MCAS Cherry Point’s training area to conduct a FARP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Williams) Cpl. Matthew Williams

The DAP version also benefits from the rolling program of upgrades that keep the MH-60M at the top of its game. For example, the engine air filters seen on the current MH-60M configuration were added specifically because of foreign object damage (FOD) ingestion issues, which particularly affected the DAP, including rocket smoke and shell casings that were found to fly into the intakes during diving attacks.

A SOCOM slide showing improvements for the MH-60M, some of which are especially relevant for the DAP version, including the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) to replace the Hellfire. <em>SOCOM</em> — A SOCOM slide showing improvements for the MH-60M, some of which are especially relevant for the DAP version, including the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) to replace the Hellfire. *SOCOM*

At the front of the MH-60M, mounted in the center of the nose, is the terrain-following/terrain avoidance radar. The newer and more capable AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight radar, or SKR, has been steadily replacing the AN/APQ-174 radar. The SKR is also found on Night Stalker MH-47Gs, as well as U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and MC-130J Commando II special operations tanker/transports.

In both cases, the radar is essential for the MH-60M to safely fly extremely low-altitude nap-of-the-earth flight profiles, even in poor weather and at night. This is exactly the kind of tactics that would have been used in Venezuela and will also have contributed to keeping the helicopters away from enemy air defenses and avoiding detection in general. As far as we know, only one helicopter was damaged in the Maduro snatch, but returned from its mission.

Footage shows Venezuelan ground forces utilizing a MANPADS at a helicopter from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment during the final phase of Operation Absolute Resolve. Shortly after the launch, retaliatory fire was observed, likely delivered by MH-60M DAPs or… pic.twitter.com/ZEhc8rZFBL
— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) January 4, 2026

On the nose directly below the radar is the AN/ZSQ-2 sensor turret, which houses electro-optical and infrared full-motion video cameras, as well as a laser rangefinder. The DAP version of the turret additionally features a laser designator for guiding weapons.

Another important tool that aids navigation through dust, sand, snow, fog, and other ‘degraded’ environments is the Degraded Visual Environment Pilotage System (DVEPS). It uses a combination of cameras and LIDAR, linked to a terrain database, to do this. Among its sensors is the AN/ZSQ-2, seen to the left of the radar in the photo below.

A close-up of the AN/ZSQ-2 turret and one of the sensors associated with the DVEPS to the left, on a standard 160th SOAR MH-60M. <em>U.S. Navy</em> — A close-up of the AN/ZSQ-2 turret and one of the sensors associated with the DVEPS to the left, on a standard 160th SOAR MH-60M. *U.S. Navy*

A different 160th SOAR MH-60M with the complete DVEPS fitted. <em>U.S. Army</em> — A different 160th SOAR MH-60M with the complete DVEPS fitted. *U.S. Army*

There are perhaps no helicopters anywhere in the world that are better protected than the 160th SOAR’s fleet.

The MH-60M is no exception, bristling with arrays of defensive systems all around the aircraft, creating a sphere of situational awareness and protection against multiple kinds of guided threats.

The defensive suite on the helicopter combines visual/infrared missile, radar, and laser warning sensors, which work together with active jammers and other electronic warfare systems, laser countermeasures, as well as countermeasures dispensers on either side of the tail boom.

The self-protection systems used by the 160th SOAR fleet are regularly updated to keep pace with changing threats. Among the latest defensive additions to the MH-60M is the Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system. As a directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system, this uses laser beams to blind and confuse the seekers on infrared-homing missiles. CIRCM is integrated with existing warning sensors, which it uses to cue the lasers against incoming threats. The same system is also being fitted on regular Army Black Hawks, as well as CH-47s and AH-64s.

Should the MH-60M crew get ‘painted’ by enemy radars or lasers, or if there’s an enemy missile incoming, they will be warned by the defensive sensors, which will also automatically trigger electronic jamming, the launch of decoy flares and/or radar-spoofing chaff, and/or trigger the CIRCM system. It’s all highly integrated to maximized survivability.

Also part of the survivability equation is just knowing where threats may be, especially if they pop-up out of nowhere. This is where the aircraft’s electronic support measures, also tied into the its defensive suite, provides situational awareness to the crew in order to give them the option of avoiding or engaging threats on the fly. Other threat data is datalinked to the aircraft from various platforms, enhancing overall situational awareness.

On that note, the MH-60M DAP, in common with all special operations Black Hawks, boasts an extensive communications suite, as evidenced by the dense array of antennas above and below the fuselage. There is also a prominent satellite communications antenna directly above the cockpit.

As we just discussed in relation to the Venezuela operation earlier today, the Army, and especially the 160th SOAR, has been experimenting with employing launched effects from their H-60s for years now, though this is not an operational capability, at least that we know of at present. These are drones capable of being launched from helicopters (as well as other platforms) that can fly dozens or even hundreds of miles to strike targets, jam emitters, or decoy air defenses, among other tasks. Launched effects are seen as essential to the survivability of helicopters in the future.

The video below, which the Army released in 2021, includes footage at around the 0:34 mark in the runtime of one of 160th SOAR’s MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters carrying a tube for a ‘launched effect’ under its right stub wing.

Launched effects are also planned for the Army’s conventional Black Hawk fleet, but the Night Stalkers, and the DAP version of the MH-60M in particular, are likely to receive it first. In Venezuela, launched effects would have allowed the DAP to strike targets indirectly and respond to air defenses as they emerged, launching kinetic attacks to get the main formation of helicopters through to their target. There is some evidence this may have happened for the first time in combat during this operation.

Last but not least, as an MH-60M derivative, the DAP has accommodation for the nose-mounted boom for the in-flight refueling probe. This is telescopic, extending when required to keep the tanker and the trailing drogue clear of the rotor blades. This gives the helicopter much longer range, limited not by fuel onboard but by crew fatigue, lubrication consumption and other factors. They usually refuel from their MC-130J counterparts.

Overall, the DAP version of the MH-60M has a strong claim to being the most heavily armed and best-protected Black Hawk iteration. While it might not be as heavily modified as the stealth Black Hawk, with its radical low-observable features, this remains very much under wraps, and its current status is altogether unclear.

As it stands, the MH-60M DAP’s combination of heavy armament, radar, and other sensor capabilities, as well as its extensive self-protection and communications systems, made it an obvious candidate in Venezuela. In the case of this raid, DAPs likely pursued troops responding at the complex that was under attack. They would have been tasked with taking out targets such as armored vehicles and anti-aircraft guns, as well as hitting any known threats just before the assaulters arrived. Critical is the fact that the DAPs can operate as an extremely well-trained integrated team with their 160th SOAR stablemates, working seamlessly as a ‘contained’ unit in the most demanding of circumstances. It would be much harder to bring in another ‘big Army’ asset for the same kind of effect.

Hopefully, we will in the future learn more details about its role — and that of the wider 160th SOAR — in Operation Absolute Resolve.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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