- A U.S. Air Force B-52 conducted a joint transit with USS Gettysburg and USS Stockdale in the Caribbean Sea on November 13, 2025.
- The operation supports U.S. Southern Command and Department of War objectives, including counter-drug missions and homeland defense.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress conducted a coordinated transit with two Navy warships—USS Gettysburg and USS Stockdale—during a joint, multi-domain operation in the Caribbean Sea on November 13, 2025.
According to the U.S. Navy, the strategic bomber flew overhead as the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) operated below in a visible demonstration of integrated air and maritime capabilities.
The operation is part of a broader U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, intended to support ongoing missions directed by the U.S. Southern Command, as well as Department of War-directed operations.
The B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range strategic bomber, is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads. It plays a key role in deterrence missions and in supporting joint and combined military operations. Its participation in this transit was aimed at reinforcing interoperability and multi-domain coordination with naval forces.
The USS Gettysburg and USS Stockdale are among several surface combatants assigned to support counter-narcotics missions and regional security in the Caribbean zone. The Navy described the operation as a routine presence patrol conducted in full compliance with international law.
This deployment also follows a series of increased U.S. maritime activities in the Caribbean in recent months, including exercises with regional partners and aerial patrols aimed at interdicting smuggling routes.
The integration of U.S. Air Force strategic bombers with Navy surface forces in the Caribbean reflects growing emphasis on joint force readiness near the Venezuelan coast.