This is how the U.S. Air Force’s special operations aircraft MC-130J and U-28A Draco operated in Chile during Exercise Southern Star

Por

16 July, 2025

From the scorching runways of Antofagasta to the icy channels of Punta Arenas—passing through the strategic ports of Valparaíso and the central-southern Chilean bases—the MC-130J and U-28A Draco aircraft of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command deployed a wide range of advanced capabilities as part of the twelfth edition of the multinational exercise “Estrella Austral” (Southern Star ’25), the largest Special Forces training event in Latin America.

Over the course of 14 days, more than 2,700 personnel from the armed forces of Chile, the United States, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay—alongside military observers from ten countries—carried out 193 air operations, including parachute drops, infiltrations, and medical evacuations, combining land, naval, and air assets across an operational stretch of more than 3,700 kilometers.

A flexible, precise, and global air force
One of the key players in the aerial deployment was the U.S. Air Force’s 27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW), based at Cannon (New Mexico). This specialized unit brought to the exercise two of its most versatile platforms: the MC-130J Commando II, designed for infiltration and refueling missions in hostile environments, and the U-28A Draco, a light surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with strong tactical capabilities.

“The United States’ commitment to its allies in the Southern Cone and throughout the Western Hemisphere is clearly demonstrated in exercises like this one. We’re here with the same level of integration and support we provide anywhere in the world,” said Lieutenant Colonel Graydon Sponaugle, mission commander of the 27 SOW for Estrella Austral.

Advanced logistics and real interoperability
In Antofagasta, the Air Commandos conducted an expeditionary refueling demonstration with the MC-130J, showing Chilean forces how to sustain special operations far from conventional bases. The following day, the same aircraft participated in static-line jump training with Chilean paratroopers, reinforcing tactical trust and interoperability between both forces.

Meanwhile, the U-28A Draco deployed its ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities across multiple scenarios. In Rancagua, it streamed high-definition aerial video in real time through a satellite ground node established by U.S. troops. In Valparaíso, during a maritime Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operation involving U.S. Navy SEALs, Chilean commandos, and Chilean Navy units, the Draco provided aerial reconnaissance support, demonstrating its effectiveness in maritime interdiction missions and coordinated support.

Chile as a strategic testing ground
The deployment throughout Chile—a country with some of the most geographically diverse terrain in the world—put the projection and adaptability capabilities of Special Operations Forces to the test. From improvised desert airstrips to naval operations in southern channels, the logistical and environmental challenges were overcome by the 27 SOW, confirming its readiness for real-world missions in high-complexity environments.

The exercise also served as a space for experimentation and technological integration, combining distributed mission planning, real-time satellite communications, and multinational coordination across air, maritime, land, space, and cyber domains. “Southern Star has been yet another demonstration of how the U.S. can integrate with any ally in the world to achieve shared goals—effectively and to mutual benefit,” concluded Sponaugle.

Images for illustrative purposes only.