US Southern Command has released footage showing a US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II being loaded in Puerto Rico, following Venezuela’s claims that American stealth aircraft had flown close to its shores.
Earlier this week, Caracas alleged that five F-35Bs had flown near the Venezuelan coast, insisting the country “would not be intimidated” by such military movements.
Experts from the portal Área Militar examined the images and identified the fighter’s weapon systems:
AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles – medium-range air-to-air weapons (shown with fins removed for ease of transport).
GBU-54 LJDAM 500lb bomb – guided by laser and GPS/INS for precision strikes against land targets.
AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles – short-range, infrared-guided weapons effective in dogfights.
The development comes amid rising diplomatic and military tensions between the United States and Venezuela, which has deepened its ties with Russia, China, and Iran.
Washington stated that the presence of the F-35Bs in Puerto Rico was solely for regional training and operational readiness in the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials, however, interpreted the move as intimidation.
Source and images: US Southern Command
