Sikorsky MH-60L DAP (Direct-Action Penetrator)

Special Forces Gunship Helicopter [ 1990 ]

The Sikorsky MH-60L DAP serves as a gunship counterpart to the base, troop-carrying MH-60L special forces helicopter.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/20/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The skilled operators of United States Special Operations COMmand (US SOCOM) currently (2021) rely on a modestly-sized fleet of Sikorsky MH-60L DAP ("Direct Action Penetrator") support helicopters to fulfill their armed rotary-lift requirements. The MH-60L DAP is a parallel evolution of the base troop-carrying MH-60L with both developed specifically for the rigors of special forces operations. The MH-60L is currently in service with the United State Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("SOAR") through both of the available troop-carrying and supporting gunship models - the DAP variant being the latter, essentially the well-armed model doing away with the inherent troop-carrying capability of the baseline MH-60L.

The most obvious feature of the DAP mark is its wingstubs which are used to mount various air-to-surface weaponry, extensively broadening tactical flexibility for special operatives on the ground. Gunships provide critical fire suppression overhead as well as on-call firepower when needed by these forward-operating ground allies. In this way, the DAP can be outfitted with the 30mm M230 Chain Gun weapon system as well as Hydra 70 series rocket pods, GAU-19 gun pods, and M134 Gatling-style minigun pods - all capable of defeating light- / soft-skinned targets at range. In addition to this, the doors can be equipped with trainable (pintle-mounted) M134D miniguns for point-defense work as well as additional suppression of enemy forces. More hefty options the proven AGM-114 "Hellfire" Anti-Tank Guided-Missile (ATGM) to combat armored targets and the AIM-92 "Stinger" to counter short-ranged aerial threats.

On the whole, the DAP offering maintains the excellent qualities of the Sikorsky UH-60 "Black Hawk" transport helicopter design: a piloting crew of two are situated in the usual side-by-side seating arrangement at the cockpit aft of a short, glazed, radar-equipped nose section. Entry to this area is by hinged, automobile-style doors. Aft of this is the crew cabin with sliding access doors. Wingstubs are mounted high along the sides of the fuselage. The UH-60's twin, side-by-side turboshaft engine arrangement is retained and this drives a four-bladed main rotor system (capable of folding for ease-of-transport) and a four-bladed tail rotor unit facing starboard. The undercarriage remains a three-point, fixed, wheeled landing gear system of tail-dragger arrangement. An in-flight refueling boom is easily identified along the lower starboard side of the aircraft - increasing operating ranges of the helicopter considerably.

Used in conjunction with the troop-carrying counterpart, the MH-60 DAP is a lethal rotary-wing system that has served SOCOM forces well for decades. Its value, and age, are such that a direct successor is actively being sought - and this might come from the in-process "Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft" (FARA) helicopter competition being undertaken by the U.S. Army.

Entrants include high-profile solutions from long-time industry players Bell and Sikorsky.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Sikorsky - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States (SOCOM)
Operators

1990
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Active
Project Status

5
Crew

100
Units

GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

SPECOPS
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.

VERTICAL TAKE-OFF / LANDING (VTOL)
Series has a tactical capability to take-off and / or land vertically, a quality commonly associated with helicopters.

RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.

ARMORING
Survivability enhanced by armor allocated to protect pilot / crewspaces and / or critical operating systems.

MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

A2A REFUELING
Capability to accept fuel from awaiting allied aircraft while in flight.

MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

GUN POSITIONS
Defensive gun positions for engagement / suppression.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

ENHANCED ACCESS
Design incorporates feature(s) that facilitates loading / unloading of cargo / personnel from the aircraft.

66.4 ft
(20.25 meters)
Length

53.6 ft
(16.35 meters)
Width/Span

16.9 ft
(5.15 meters)
Height

12,346 lb
(5,600 kilograms)
Empty Weight

26,896 lb
(12,200 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+14,551 lb
(+6,600 kg)
Weight Difference

monoplane / high-mounted / straight
Mainplane Arrangement

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.

High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.

Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.

2 x General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engines developing 1,890 horsepower driving four-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor unit (starboard side).
Propulsion

103 mph
(165 kph | 89 knots)
Max Speed

20,013 ft
(6,100 m | 4 miles)
Ceiling

1,398 miles
(2,250 km | 1,215 nm)
Range

1,450 ft/min
(442 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Supported types:
30mm M230 Chain Gun automatic cannons.
19-shot Hydra 70 rocket pods.
GAU-19 gun pods.
M134 minigun gun pods.

Specific Threats:
AGM-114 "Hellfire" Anti-Tank, Guided-Missiles (ATGMs).
AIM-92 "Stinger" short-ranged air-to-air missiles.

Also:
M134D miniguns at each fuselage side door opening (trainable).

Also any personal weapons carried by the crew.

4
Hardpoints

X

Hardpoints Key:

Centerline

Wingroot(L)

Wingroot(R)

Wing

Wingtip

Internal

Not Used

MH-60L DAP - Direct-Action Penetrator variant.

MH-60L - Troop-carrying variant.

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