Heist Prep: Stealth helicopter

"A helicopter, yes. But not just any helicopter. Stealth technology. Invisible to radar. We choose the right drop zone, you have enough time to rappel down before anyone sees you. We will need specialist pilot, but I know just the man."

- Pavel's briefing on planning screen.

Stealth helicopter is a prep mission featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of The Cayo Perico Heist update, and is a freeroam mission that can be completed at any time while The Cayo Perico Heist strand is active. It is one of six missions within the Approach Vehicle category that is mandatory for completion, but becomes optional if another of the missions has been completed. It requires the player to discover at least one drop zone on the island during the gather intel prep mission.

Overview
Pavel reveals that if the player(s) wish to drop discreetly onto the island via one of the two drop zones they found when scoping it out, they will need a sophisticated stealth helicopter for the job to avoid detection by Juan Strickler's men. He soon reveals that he has found one, but it will require dealing with the security measures in place before stealing it, and then bringing the helicopter to Miguel Madrazo's private hangar at LSIA. Players will be given one of two variants for the mission.

Completing this mission will acquire an Annihilator Stealth helicopter for approaching Cayo Perico in the finale, but it cannot be used until the player completes an additional mission to secure a pilot.

Raid a Yacht
"You have quite the shopping list, you know this, kapitan? A stealth helicopter does not come on the market every day. Only when the government is in need of emergency funds. I have been waiting, and today there is such a deal taking place on a yacht just offshore."

- One of Pavel's briefings.

Pavel tells the protagonist that he has located an Annihilator Stealth helicopter aboard a Yacht anchored offshore San Andreas, and that it will be heavily defended while it is awaiting sale to a private buyer.

Players must travel to the location of the yacht and board it, before heading for the bridge, dealing with hostiles along the way.

Once there, they must use a laptop in order to disable the anti-air defense aboard the vessel.

Once the defenses are down, they must make their way to the helicopter, steal it, and deliver it to Miguel's hangar without letting it be destroyed. The mission is completed when the helicopter is parked before the doors of the hangar.

Locations

 * Chumash
 * Elysian Island
 * Paleto Cove

Steal from Merryweather
"You know one of the benefits of highly militarized private sector? You do internet search for "stealth helicopter near me," you come up with dozen hits right away. The only challenge is to get you behind the joystick, yes? The one I have chosen is latest acquisition of private military organization with base at docks. There will be angry men with big guns, sure, but these are not the main problem. That would be the air defenses, kapitan! So, let's drop in!"

- One of Pavel's briefings.

Pavel tells the protagonist that he has sourced an Annihilator Stealth helicopter in the possession of Merryweather Security, where it is currently under guard at their HQ in the Port of Los Santos.

Players must venture to the HQ, whereupon they must destroy a series of anti-air turrets before they can steal the helicopter, dealing with hostile mercenaries. Only explosives will deal with the turrets, and some will require finding vantage points to be able to hit them.

Once the defenses are destroyed, they must steal the helicopter and deal with a pair of helicopters sent by Merryweather, without letting them destroy the vehicle. Once done, they must travel to LSIA and land the vehicle before the doors to Miguel's hangar.