Within the framework of the growing operational activity in the Caribbean related to anti-drug operations near Venezuela, U.S. Special Operations Forces have deployed their combat and assault boats —Combatant Craft Assault (CCA)— in Puerto Rico, in an action that reinforces Washington’s specialized maritime presence in the region. Images released on social media show the unloading of at least two CCAs from a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft at Ponce Airport, a logistical movement that confirms the rapid response and projection capability of these elite units.
Photographs and records obtained by local observers show the full sequence of the operation, in which the boats were unloaded after the C-17’s landing for their subsequent preparation. This type of deployment, combining strategic air transport, special forces insertion, and immediate readiness, falls within the standard procedures of Naval Special Warfare, aimed at ensuring the rapid availability of specialized assets in operationally significant scenarios.
On the tactical level, the CCAs are designed to carry out medium-range maritime interdiction missions, insertion and extraction of small special operations teams, as well as coastal patrols in medium- or high-threat environments. Their configuration allows them to perform direct action, reconnaissance, and support to covert operations, integrating with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets for the detection and neutralization of maritime targets.
From a technical standpoint, the Combatant Craft Assault features a monohull design made of SPRINT composite materials, which provides lightness, strength, and a low radar signature. It is powered by two high-performance diesel engines, and its architecture was conceived to optimize maneuverability and reduce detectability. Onboard, it incorporates a mast-mounted maritime radar, the CCFLIR system (integrating infrared, daylight, and low-light cameras), and secure communications systems. It can also be configured with various weapons, including .50 caliber M2 machine guns, 7.62 mm M240s, or MK19 automatic grenade launchers, depending on the mission type.
Its strategic mobility is one of its greatest advantages: it can be transported by C-17 aircraft, loaded or unloaded by crane from ships, and even launched directly into the sea from transport aircraft—giving it remarkable operational flexibility. These capabilities, combined with its speed and stealth, explain why SEAL units and Special Boat Teams use it to extend the range and autonomy of their maritime operations.
The deployment observed in Puerto Rico strengthens the presence of specialized assets in a key geographic point for U.S. naval operations in the Caribbean. Beyond the immediate tactical value of the CCAs, their arrival demonstrates the ability of the Naval Special Warfare Command to rapidly project light, stealthy, and highly advanced platforms integrated within a joint framework that combines air, naval, and reconnaissance power in a strategically significant environment.
*Illustrative cover image. Credits: U.S. Navy
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