In recent hours, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources have reported a series of unprecedented flights carried out by U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer strategic bombers over the Caribbean — a region far from their usual deployment areas in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. The aircraft, identified by the callsigns “BAT-21” and “BAT-22,” took off from the state of Florida accompanied by three KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft (“MAINE-11,” “MAINE-12,” and “MAINE-13”), following a flight path that crossed Bahamian airspace heading south.
The deployment, not yet officially confirmed by the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) or U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), represents one of the few instances of B-1B bomber activity in the Caribbean, with no recent precedent for this type of operation. The observed flight pattern suggests a possible approach toward Venezuelan airspace — a zone of increasing strategic interest to Washington in recent weeks.
According to recent reports, the B-1B aircraft were refueled in-flight over the western Atlantic — a standard maneuver for long-range missions of this nature. Although the specific purpose of the exercise or operation has not been confirmed, such flights are typically part of the Bomber Task Force’s (BTF) global training missions, intended to demonstrate the ability of U.S. bombers to operate across multiple theaters and project deterrent capability anywhere in the world.
The flight also comes amid heightened U.S. military activity and presence in the Caribbean, where exercises and maritime patrol operations have intensified to combat drug-trafficking organizations labeled as terrorist entities by Washington. Analysts suggest this deployment could be both an operational training exercise and a demonstration of deterrence by the White House.
This flight also follows similar recent operations involving B-52H bombers. The most recent of these took place just days ago, when Stratofortresses conducted comparable missions escorted by F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). On that occasion, U.S. Southern Command stated that this unprecedented activity in the region aimed to “…demonstrate the United States’ commitment to proactively deterring adversary threats, improving crew training, and ensuring the global readiness levels necessary to respond to any contingency or challenge.”
Cover image for illustrative purposes only.
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