Understand why the U.S. did not use stealth Black Hawks in the operation to capture Maduro

English Posted on  —by Carro e motos
Understand why the US did not use stealth Black Hawks in the operation to capture Maduro
Understand why the US did not use stealth Black Hawks in the operation to capture Maduro (X @usairforce)

The absence of stealth Black Hawk helicopters in Operation Absolute Determination, which resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, drew attention for contrasting with the mission that eliminated Osama bin Laden in 2011. Although planning followed a similar logic, the Venezuelan context presented far more complex challenges.

The operation took place in the country’s capital, against a heavily protected target, in a high-alert environment with active air defenses, which required the use of conventional means, but heavily armed and protected, such as the MH-60 and MH-47 of the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

Another decisive factor was the scale of the operation. Around 200 elite operators participated in the air assault, a number incompatible with the use of stealth helicopters, which are rare assets, with limited availability and transport capacity. Furthermore, the mission required helicopters capable of providing intense fire support, possible with MH-60s configured as Direct Action Penetrators (DAP), but unlikely with stealth variants. The need for in-flight refueling, the use of advanced sensors, and self-protection systems, such as countermeasures against man-portable missiles, also weighed against using platforms focused solely on reducing radar signature.

Finally, unlike the incursion in Pakistan, the United States chose to preemptively neutralize Venezuelan air defenses, reducing the need for extreme stealth. The presence of stealth fighters, electronic warfare aircraft, and advanced surveillance drones provided sufficient protection for the helicopter force.

Thus, the combination of operational, logistical, and strategic factors explains why stealth Black Hawks — whose current existence is not even confirmed — were left out of the operation, highlighting that the Caracas scenario required robustness and firepower rather than absolute discretion.

Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @usairforce | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team

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