The Twelfth Air Force has released official photos from a demonstration mission earlier this week featuring B-52H Stratofortress bombers operating near Venezuela, escorted by Marine Corps F-35B fighters armed with Sidewinder missiles.
In a show of long-range strike capability and joint-forces coordination, several B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers from the U.S. Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, conducted a demonstration flight over international waters off the Venezuelan coast.
The mission was supported by Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA-225), known as the “Vikings,” currently deployed to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico.
Official images released by the Twelfth Air Force showcased the massive bombers flying in formation with the stealth-enabled F-35Bs, which were visibly equipped with AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The exercise, described as a routine readiness operation, aimed to underline the U.S. military’s capacity to project power and maintain operational flexibility in the Caribbean region.
While officials emphasized that the mission took place in international airspace, the timing of the flight drew attention amid rising regional tensions and ongoing U.S. concerns over Venezuelan military activities. No hostile encounters were reported during the demonstration.
Pentagon sources characterized the mission as part of continuing deterrence and interoperability initiatives between the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps aviation units.
