F-35B Lightning II fighter jets operated by the U.S. Marine Corps carried out flight missions on October 28, 2025, from an undisclosed site within the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. These operations form part of Washington’s continued efforts to deter transnational threats, strengthen cooperation with regional partners, and reinforce defense posture through forward-deployed airpower.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the missions supported ongoing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in the Caribbean to enhance homeland security. By maintaining a sustained aerial presence, the United States aims to improve situational awareness and deter criminal networks operating across maritime corridors.
The short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capable F-35B allows the Marine Corps to conduct missions without relying on traditional runways—launching from amphibious ships, forward arming points, or remote strips. This flexibility enables rapid deployment and persistent patrol capability across challenging environments.
Equipped with the AN/APG-81 radar, Distributed Aperture System, and advanced sensor fusion, the aircraft integrates combat functions with intelligence-gathering. Pilots can detect, track, and engage threats while seamlessly sharing real-time information with Navy and Air Force platforms.
The aircraft’s stealth profile and electronic warfare systems enable effective operations in contested airspace, providing commanders under USSOUTHCOM with a vital asset to monitor maritime routes often used for smuggling and illicit trade. Working jointly with U.S. Navy and Air Force elements, these missions form part of a layered maritime security network that combines manned aircraft, unmanned systems, and surface combatants for continuous domain awareness.
Sustaining a rotational F-35B presence in the Caribbean allows rapid response to regional crises, humanitarian missions, and emerging threats. The deployment also reinforces multinational efforts such as Operation Martillo, designed to combat organized crime and trafficking across the region.
A Southern Command spokesperson emphasized that these operations demonstrate America’s enduring commitment to regional stability and partnership building. The deployment of fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35B underscores the U.S. military’s shift toward agile, technology-driven, and integrated operations, combining stealth, precision strike capability, and joint interoperability to counter both conventional and asymmetric threats throughout the Western Hemisphere.
