ZM in Puerto Rico – The military deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces in images

14 January, 2026

Throughout our stay in Puerto Rico, Zona Militar’s coverage made it possible to firsthand document the presence and activity of a wide range of U.S. Armed Forces military assets deployed on the island. From fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to naval units, the material recorded at locations such as Ceiba Airport and the port of Ponce highlighted Puerto Rico’s role as one of Washington’s most relevant strategic enclaves in the Caribbean, particularly in the regional context following developments in Venezuela.

During the various visits carried out over the course of the week, it was possible to confirm sustained activity and a constant rotation of air and naval assets, demonstrating that the U.S. military presence on the island was not the result of an isolated or short-term deployment. On the contrary, the observed movements are clearly part of a broader framework of presence and power projection in the Caribbean.

José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba

Within this context, José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba emerged as one of the key hubs of the air deployment. From this facility, combat, support, electronic warfare, and rescue aircraft belonging to various components of the U.S. Armed Forces operated, reflecting a joint and multi-domain approach to sustaining operations in the region.

US F-35 Lightning II fighter jets in Ceiba, Puerto Rico — 35B Lightning – U.S. – Zona Militar

There, we were able to observe fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters from both the Air National Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps; AV-8B Harrier II+ aircraft operated by the Marines; EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft of the U.S. Navy; as well as HH-60W Jolly Green II CSAR/SAR helicopters belonging to the 33rd Rescue Squadron, along with AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters.

Although F-22A Raptor fighters had already completed their redeployment back to their home bases in the continental United States, their earlier participation marked the initial phase of the deployment associated with Operation Absolute Resolve.

Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla

Another key point of the coverage was Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, a facility that in recent years has been used to support air operations linked to surveillance and power projection tasks in the Caribbean, standing out as one of the most important locations for the U.S. Coast Guard’s presence. During our stay, it was possible to observe the presence and operation of aircraft associated with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, as well as the arrival of strategic airlift platforms.

MQ-9 Reaper – U.S. Air Force – Zona Militar

In particular, the activity of U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones was recorded. These systems are employed for surveillance missions over large areas of the Caribbean and other regions of interest. Characterized by their endurance and persistence, they represent one of the central components of the sustained aerial monitoring framework that Washington maintains in the region. Additionally, the arrival of at least one U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft was also observed.

Ponce

Meanwhile, our coverage in the southern part of Puerto Rico made it possible to document significant activity in the Ponce area, where U.S. Marine Corps rotary-wing assets were concentrated, along with U.S. Navy naval units. At Ponce Airport, the presence of MV-22 Osprey aircraft used for personnel and cargo transport was observed, alongside CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters.

San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) – US Navy – Zona Militar

At the same time, the port of Ponce hosted two U.S. Navy vessels: the USS Gettysburg (CG-64), a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, and the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.