Venezuelan Air Force Su-30MK2 fighters conducted a live bomb-release exercise over the Caribbean, a display seen as a message to growing U.S. military presence in the region. Footage posted on October 7, 2025, showed a Su-30MK2 dropping two unguided bombs—believed to be Soviet-designed FAB-250 M-54s—during a training sortie.
The video captures the twin explosions from a low-altitude release, underlining that Caracas maintains a credible conventional strike capability despite limited access to precision munitions.
Powered by twin AL-31F turbofan engines, the Su-30MK2 can carry up to 8,000 kilograms of ordnance across 12 hardpoints and employs the N001VEP radar with maritime strike modes, supporting Kh-31A anti-ship and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles. Originally, Venezuela received 24 Su-30MK2s, which remain the backbone of its air force.
If confirmed as M-54 bombs, the use of these 250-kilogram general-purpose munitions signals training focused on maintaining basic bombing proficiency—an asset for missions ranging from coastal defense to interdiction. Though less precise than guided weapons, such bombs remain cost-effective for striking runways, depots, or shore targets.
The exercise comes amid renewed friction between Washington and Caracas, following a U.S. naval operation against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel near Venezuelan waters. Caracas has since increased its military visibility, emphasizing Sukhoi flights and combat drills.
Defense analysts interpret the move as a strategic signal: reaffirming that Venezuela’s Su-30MK2s remain the country’s most capable strike platform and that the nation intends to assert its presence in contested Caribbean airspace.
