Contract • Solo / Duo / Trio / Quatro
The Black Box File
Prepare the air-traffic hack, sonar and Tula, force the IAA plane into the Alamo Sea and recover its black box.
BLACK / BOX / FILE01
Complete financial model
Rotation-dependent • no single fixed minute valueThere is no single confirmed minute value; availability depends on a board, phone call or contract rotation.
Verified permanent rules
Priority File
- One board entry is the weekly Priority File, and its increased payout is available once before the reset.
- The permanent Priority multiplier is ×2; the Challenge worth up to $50,000 is a separate condition and is not part of the multiplier.
- Priority File is not a GTA+ benefit; the current weekly file is not hard-coded into the guide.
- No official partner rate is published: detailed walkthroughs for all four Files indicate $25,000 for the finale; the Challenge worth up to $50,000 is settled separately (confidence B).
| Payout target | Base payout | Priority ×2 |
|---|---|---|
| Black Box File | $155,000 | $310,000 |
host and every partner have a separately defined payout
02
Complete step-by-step operation
OPERATIONS GUIDE V2 • SOLO
Prepare the air-traffic hack, sonar and Tula, force the IAA plane into the Alamo Sea and recover its black box.
Start here
- Buy the Darnell Bros Garment Factory through Maze Bank Foreclosures and complete the FIB Files introduction.
Select “The Black Box File — complete flow” on the Factory office computer when the file is available.
The operations office inside the Darnell Bros Garment Factory.
The FIB Files computer with three preparations and a finale.
- Other Factory facilities and personal vehicles are not prerequisites for launching a selected file.
First run and replay
These are two persistent story instructions. They are not the finance calculator's weekly-variant switch.
First story playthrough
The first “The Black Box File — complete flow” selection runs through the three preparations on the Factory computer before unlocking the file finale.
Story replay
Select a replay from the computer when the file is available; repeat its preparations while keeping payouts in the separate finance panel.
Official mission order
- 01
prep / preparation Hacking Device
Acquire the device used against the LSIA tower and aircraft systems.
- 02
prep / preparation Sonar Equipment
Prepare sonar equipment for recovering the black box from the wreck.
- 03
prep / preparation Weaponized Aircraft
Acquire an armed aircraft for the interception.
- 04
finale The Black Box File
Install the virus, destroy four engines, evacuate in the Tula and recover the black box.
Strategies that genuinely change the route
Tula, forced crash and sonar
- When
- After installing the tower device, acquiring sonar and stashing the Tula.
- Plan
- Reroute the plane, upload the virus from the Tula, damage four engines, bail before explosion and transition to the black-box dive.
- Trade-off
- The finale changes vehicle and environment several times; every transition needs a shared regroup point.
Plan for the selected team: SOLO
Selected in the calculator • SOLO for “The Black Box File — complete flow”: SOLO operator: Tula pilot + Virus operator + Engine gunner + Diver and Dinghy driver.
Concrete roles
Controls takeoff, VTOL, upload range and bail-out timing. Maintains the SecuroServ upload while chasing the Cargo Plane. Damages four engines without destroying the target before the crash site. Uses sonar, breaches the fuselage, retrieves the box and leads the Cassidy Creek escape.
Actions, risk and run recovery
- 01
prep / preparationHacking Device - Action
- Raid the cybersecurity firm, steal its device and plant it at the LSIA air traffic control tower.
- Tip
- Acquire the Hacking Device and confirm delivery to the Garment Factory before the next prep.
- Risk / failure condition
- Missing the device blocks the navigation virus during the finale.
- How to recover the run
- Return to the last holder, recover the device and close its computer row.
- 02
prep / preparationSonar Equipment - Action
- Find the tugboat at the docks, open its deck storage box, take the portable sonar and deliver it to the Garment Factory.
- Tip
- For Sonar Equipment search marked containers systematically and stay until the set is found.
- Risk / failure condition
- Missing sonar prevents locating the black box after the crash.
- How to recover the run
- Return to the final unopened crate, secure the equipment and only then begin delivery.
- 03
prep / preparationWeaponized Aircraft - Action
- Reach the Merryweather barge, clear the deck, steal the weaponized Tula and stash it at the prepared location.
- Tip
- Prepare the Weaponized Aircraft with a pilot and gunner who keep those roles in the finale.
- Risk / failure condition
- Changing roles in flight leaves the aircraft without a stable course or weapons.
- How to recover the run
- Hold launch, restore seats and confirm communication before takeoff.
- 04
finaleLSIA tower - Action
- In the finale, move within range of the planted device and complete the node hack to reroute the IAA plane away from LSIA.
- Tip
- At the LSIA tower the operator tracks the correct flight while cover holds the station entrance.
- Risk / failure condition
- An interrupted terminal loses the aircraft route and delays interception.
- How to recover the run
- Secure the entrance, return to the same console and reacquire the full flight marker.
- 05
finaleCatch the plane - Action
- Take the Tula, use its takeoff and VTOL modes, and close on the escorted Cargo Plane despite the Buzzards.
- Tip
- The pilot approaches the tracked aircraft from behind while gunners clear escorts without hitting it.
- Risk / failure condition
- Destroying the aircraft carrying the black box fails the finale before virus installation.
- How to recover the run
- Cease fire on the target, create distance and retry after clearing escorts.
- 06
finaleNavigation virus - Action
- Keep the Tula within range and use the SecuroServ app to upload the virus that forces the plane toward the Alamo Sea.
- Tip
- The operator installs the navigation virus while the pilot holds a steady heading and altitude.
- Risk / failure condition
- Sharp maneuvers or leaving the station resets device progress.
- How to recover the run
- Level the flight, cover the rear and resume the same interaction.
- 07
finaleFour engines - Action
- Damage the Cargo Plane's engines and follow it to the crash site while evading the Fort Zancudo jets.
- Tip
- The gunner counts four destroyed engines and shifts fire only after each confirmation.
- Risk / failure condition
- A missed engine will not force the target's controlled crash.
- How to recover the run
- Reacquire the aircraft, find the active engine marker and finish the missing target.
- 08
finaleEvacuate the Tula - Action
- When the Tula's controls fail, bail out before it explodes and land or swim to the wreck area.
- Tip
- After the crash evacuate the Tula crew and agree on a regroup point before searching for the black box.
- Risk / failure condition
- Splitting evacuation and sonar search leaves one group without transport.
- How to recover the run
- Regroup at the nearest shore, secure transport and only then begin the dive.
- 09
finaleRecover the black box - Action
- Activate sonar, dive to the wreck, breach the fuselage with the supplied explosives and take the black box from the cockpit.
- Tip
- The sonar operator dives on the exact marker while cover holds the boat above the crash site.
- Risk / failure condition
- Diving outside the area wastes air and loses the recovery point.
- How to recover the run
- Surface to the boat, read sonar again and make a second vertical descent on the marker.
- 10
finaleDinghy and buyer - Action
- Return to the surface, board the weaponized Dinghy, lose the pursuit through Cassidy Creek and deliver the box to the buyer.
- Tip
- Board the Dinghy with the black box and keep the carrier inside the protected crew to the buyer.
- Risk / failure condition
- A carrier left in the water or a separate boat can be cut off by pursuit.
- How to recover the run
- Turn the Dinghy back, collect the carrier and resume on one route after clearing the nearest threat.
Common mistakes
Tower, sonar or Tula not ready
- Consequence
- Any missing item stops rerouting, wreck location or the aerial pursuit itself.
- Correction
- Return to the Factory computer and finish the exact missing preparation before relaunching.
Tula outside upload range
- Consequence
- Losing range resets progress and extends exposure to Buzzards and Zancudo jets.
- Correction
- Match altitude and speed, stop chasing escorts and return behind the plane before resuming upload.
Late Tula evacuation
- Consequence
- Staying in the Tula ends in explosion, while scattered landings delay sonar and diving.
- Correction
- Bail out, open the parachute toward safety, regroup on the surface and only then activate sonar.
Pre-launch checklist
The pilot knows VTOL, upload range and the unambiguous Tula bail-out call.
Sonar, fuselage explosives and Dinghy have assigned operators after the crash.
Confirm all three preparations because the finale uses them in sequence without substitutes.
The pilot holds a constant distance behind the Cargo Plane while the operator stays in the app until completion.
When controls fail, the pilot calls an immediate bail-out and everyone heads to one wreck point.
03
Expanded informational overview
Guide scopeThis section organizes the complete cycle: requirements, phases, figures and dependencies. The detailed operation flow is in the walkthrough above.
04
How the full cycle works
This section complements the walkthrough with full-cycle dependencies: unlock, preparations, finale, settlement and the next available attempt.
Unlock
Requirement: Garment Factory.
Contract selection
Availability may depend on a board, phone call or activity rotation.
Preparation
The model includes required stages before the final settlement.
Completion
Team choice affects pace, host payout and each partner's payout.
Replay or rotation
There is no single confirmed minute value; availability depends on a board, phone call or contract rotation.
05
What affects the result
Payout and time cover the complete cycle, not only its final job.
The host and every participant have separately defined payouts; the team average does not replace those values.
Setup fees and commissions are deducted before the net result.
Fast/typical/beginner: 35 min / 52 min / 1 hr 20 min.
Main strengths
- Lower entry cost than major heists.
- Flexible supported team size.
Constraints
- Some contracts depend on board rotation.
- A partner may receive a different payout from the host.
06
Solo / Duo / Trio / Quatro variants
Every supported team size shows its host, partner and team model; unofficial figures carry a clear source label, while lower-confidence payouts stay outside calculators.
Solo: full pace control and no crew wait.
- Host / owner
- $155,000
- Team net
- $155,000
- Rotation
- Rotation-dependentno single fixed minute value
Duo: the host and 1 partner have separate payouts.
- Host / owner
- $155,000
- Each partner
- $25,000No official partner rate is published — detailed walkthroughs for all four Files consistently report $25,000; the Challenge worth up to $50,000 remains separate (confidence B).
- Team net
- $180,000
- Rotation
- Rotation-dependentno single fixed minute value
Trio: the host and 2 partners have separate payouts.
- Host / owner
- $155,000
- Each partner
- $25,000No official partner rate is published — detailed walkthroughs for all four Files consistently report $25,000; the Challenge worth up to $50,000 remains separate (confidence B).
- Team net
- $205,000
- Rotation
- Rotation-dependentno single fixed minute value
Quatro: the host and 3 partners have separate payouts.
- Host / owner
- $155,000
- Each partner
- $25,000No official partner rate is published — detailed walkthroughs for all four Files consistently report $25,000; the Challenge worth up to $50,000 remains separate (confidence B).
- Team net
- $230,000
- Rotation
- Rotation-dependentno single fixed minute value
07
Complete figures by team
Typical values for the selected cycle; every cell also contains a min–max range.
| Team | Cooldown | Team gross | Costs + fees | Host / owner | Each partner | Team net | Host / owner $/h | Team $/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLO | Rotation-dependentRotation • no single fixed minute value | $155,000min: $155,000 · typical: $155,000 · max: $155,000 | $0min: $0 · typical: $0 · max: $0 | $155,000min: $155,000 · typical: $155,000 · max: $155,000 | — | $155,000min: $155,000 · typical: $155,000 · max: $155,000 | $178,846min: $178,846 · typical: $178,846 · max: $178,846 | $178,846min: $178,846 · typical: $178,846 · max: $178,846 |
| DUO | Rotation-dependentRotation • no single fixed minute value | $180,000min: $180,000 · typical: $180,000 · max: $180,000 | $0min: $0 · typical: $0 · max: $0 | $155,000min: $155,000 · typical: $155,000 · max: $155,000 | $25,000min: $25,000 · typical: $25,000 · max: $25,000 | $180,000min: $180,000 · typical: $180,000 · max: $180,000 | $178,846min: $178,846 · typical: $178,846 · max: $178,846 | $207,692min: $207,692 · typical: $207,692 · max: $207,692 |
| TRIO | Rotation-dependentRotation • no single fixed minute value | $205,000min: $205,000 · typical: $205,000 · max: $205,000 | $0min: $0 · typical: $0 · max: $0 | $155,000min: $155,000 · typical: $155,000 · max: $155,000 | $25,000min: $25,000 · typical: $25,000 · max: $25,000 | $205,000min: $205,000 · typical: $205,000 · max: $205,000 | $178,846min: $178,846 · typical: $178,846 · max: $178,846 | $236,538min: $236,538 · typical: $236,538 · max: $236,538 |
| QUATRO | Rotation-dependentRotation • no single fixed minute value | $230,000min: $230,000 · typical: $230,000 · max: $230,000 | $0min: $0 · typical: $0 · max: $0 | $155,000min: $155,000 · typical: $155,000 · max: $155,000 | $25,000min: $25,000 · typical: $25,000 · max: $25,000 | $230,000min: $230,000 · typical: $230,000 · max: $230,000 | $178,846min: $178,846 · typical: $178,846 · max: $178,846 | $265,385min: $265,385 · typical: $265,385 · max: $265,385 |
08
Key facts
VIDEO
Video walkthrough
Verified video · EN
GTA Online - The Black Box File SOLO Guide (Agents of Sabotage DLC)
All setups, finale and bonus objectives.
- Channel
- Tylarious
- Published
- 12 Dec 2024
- Checked
- 29 Aug 2026