U.S. Southern Command receives a new wave of combat aircraft as F-35A Lightning IIs and EA-18G Growlers deploy to the region, while HH-60W Pave Hawks move from Japan to Puerto Rico.
Adding to the already powerful force assembled at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group (CSG), the USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group (ARG), and numerous forward-deployed combat and support aircraft in Puerto Rico and the region, the U.S. Air Force has confirmed the first deployment of tactical fighters and additional assets. An unnamed U.S. official told The War Zone on December 11, 2025, that the 158th Fighter Wing (FW) from the Vermont Air National Guard (ANG) is preparing to join Operation Southern Spear at SOUTHCOM.
While Southern Spear is officially aimed at countering narcotics smuggling in the Caribbean, there are persistent rumors that the mission may expand to include direct operations against Venezuelan targets, accused by the U.S. of aiding drug traffickers. So far, strikes have targeted boats at sea and included the interception of a Venezuelan oil tanker. B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer flights have conducted ‘bomber attack demonstration’ missions near Venezuelan airspace, while F/A-18E/F Super Hornets have operated inside the Gulf of Venezuela near Maracaibo, all remaining in international airspace but sending a clear signal.
The 158th FW’s F-35As, operated by the 134th Fighter Squadron, focus on Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). Previously an air defense unit flying F-16s, the squadron shifted to SEAD with the F-35 and previously deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in 2022. The ‘weasel holding a lightning bolt’ patch reflects their SEAD ‘Wild Weasel’ mission heritage.
Already in Puerto Rico, six EA-18G Growlers arrived at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station on December 10, joining F-35Bs and other support aircraft. These Growlers, specialized in SEAD and electronic warfare, deployed with both AN/ALQ-99 EW pods and the new AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band (NGJ-MB). The SEAD-focused deployment highlights concerns over Venezuelan air defenses, reportedly including 5,000 Russian-made missiles from MANPADS to S-300VM systems, and possible Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E deliveries.
Historical context shows SEAD’s importance: during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, B-2 bombers were escorted by a SEAD package including F-35s and F-22 Raptors. SEAD ensures protection against advanced air defenses and allows targeting of radar systems with anti-radiation missiles, potentially using data from recent Venezuelan airspace flybys.
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) preparations are also underway. HH-60W Pave Hawks arrived in Puerto Rico aboard a C-17A Globemaster III from Kadena Air Base, Japan, after stops at Yokota, Elmendorf, and MacDill Air Bases. The 33rd Rescue Squadron, stationed in Japan, provides highly experienced crews for potential CSAR missions. Supporting them, HC-130J Combat King IIs and MC-130J Commando IIs offer aerial refueling, sensor coverage, and personnel recovery capabilities, which can be further extended using KC-135 and KC-46 tankers. This setup enables long-range helicopter and tiltrotor operations, including establishing forward area refueling points if needed.
With these deployments, SOUTHCOM now possesses unprecedented capabilities. Whether these forces will be used depends on decisions made in Washington, D.C.
About The Author
