U.S. Air Force deploys RC-135 spy plane near Venezuelan coast

The United States Air Force has continued intensive reconnaissance flights near Venezuela’s coastline, deploying RC-135V/W intelligence aircraft over the Caribbean at activity levels comparable to those recorded in early January, according to open flight tracking data and regional monitoring reports.

On the latest mission, an RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, tail number 64-14848, operated from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida and remained on station near Venezuela until at least 21:50 UTC on Monday, corresponding to 5:50 p.m. local time in Caracas. The flight profile indicates prolonged electronic surveillance activity in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea.

Monitoring accounts tracking regional air activity reported that electronic surveillance in the Caribbean does not stop, noting the continued presence of RC-135 aircraft operating close to Venezuelan airspace. The observed tempo closely mirrors flight patterns seen during the first days of January, when U.S. reconnaissance activity in the region also increased.

The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint is a specialized signals intelligence platform operated by the United States Air Force. The aircraft is designed to collect, analyze, and geolocate electronic emissions from radar systems, communications networks, and other signal sources. Such missions are typically conducted in international airspace and are used to build situational awareness during periods of heightened military activity.

Flights originating from Homestead Air Reserve Base are commonly used for Caribbean and Latin American surveillance missions. The base hosts Air Force Reserve units that support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations across the region.

The renewed surveillance effort comes as U.S. forces maintain an elevated operational posture around Venezuela following recent U.S. military actions in the region.

RC-135 aircraft have been widely used by the United States in other regions during periods of tension, including near Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Their presence often signals close monitoring rather than direct military engagement, with the aircraft remaining outside national airspace.