The aircraft used by the United States Armed Forces in the capture of Nicolás Maduro

The operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has been one of the most complex US military operations in years.

The ineffectiveness of Venezuela's defenses: what happened to its F-16, Su-30 and MANPADS?
The special operations helicopters of the United States Army's 'Night Stalkers'

This mission, officially called Operation Absolute Resolve, has involved four branches of the US Armed Forces: the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps (USMC) and the Air Force (USAF), which have contributed various aerial assets to the success of this operation.

Yesterday, General John Daniel "Razin" Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed some of the aircraft used during the operation, both to open air corridors and to destroy various targets: F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet naval fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye naval early warning aircraft, and B-1B Lancer strategic bombers.

One of the most important aircraft in this operation would have been the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. This twin-engine turboprop aircraft of the United States Navy is equipped with a Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, capable of detecting targets at a range of 650 kilometers. It would have alerted the attacking force if Venezuelan fighter jets had taken off to repel the US force. Furthermore, this aircraft is used as an airborne air control platform, playing a fundamental role in coordinating operations.

On December 31st, we already saw the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft here. This aircraft would have played a very important role in this operation, since its electronic systems serve to jam enemy radars, hindering or preventing the detection of the attacking force. They also have AGM-88 HARM missiles designed to destroy enemy radars. Its work largely explains why the United States suffered no casualties in this operation.

On January 3, four EA-18G aircraft were recorded taking off from the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, possibly to participate in the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro. HR Planespotter has published this video showing their takeoff:

The USAF's F-22 Raptors and F-35s (likely the Marine Corps' F-35Bs) are also a key component in an operation like this, as their low radar signature allows them to enter enemy airspace almost undetected.

This afternoon, at 8:00 PM CET, the channel HR Planespotter published another video showing the return of several USMC F-35Bs (significantly without any identifying symbols or numbers on their tail fins) to the aforementioned Naval Station in Puerto Rico. The video also shows USMC KC-130J Super Hercules tanker aircraft, which would have provided support to the stealth fighters during this operation.

The largest of the aircraft used in this operation is the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber. According to the USAF Almanac 2025, there are currently 46 operational B-1Bs out of the 104 of this type that were built between 1973 and 1988. They are aircraft with a devastating destructive capacity, but they can also use highly accurate weapons, such as GBU-31 bombs with the JDAM kit, AGM-154 JSOW glide bombs, and AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles, among many other options.

One of the aircraft not mentioned by General Caine is the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Skunk Works (Lockheed Martin's secretive division). It is a reconnaissance aircraft with a very low radar signature. One of them was seen yesterday returning to Puerto Rico. Nando Curbelo Rodriguez recorded it in this video shared by @Rainmaker1973" rel="noopener" target="_blank">@Rainmaker1973:

U.S. RQ-170 stealth drone returning to Puerto Rico this morning.

This is a quiete rare footage of the drone, spotted after supporting US strikes on Venezuela last night.

[📹 Nando Curbelo Rodriguez]pic.twitter.com/dYVHcfGvbQ

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 3, 2026

In addition to these aircraft, others not mentioned by General Caine have also been used. Yesterday we already saw here those belonging to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) "Night Stalkers" of the US Army, the unit that would have been in charge of transporting Delta Force for the capture of Nicolás Maduro, which would have taken place at 7:04 CET at Fort Tiuna, in Caracas, where the Venezuelan dictator had taken refuge.

The Night Stakers reportedly used two types of aircraft in this operation: the MH-47G Chinook Block II heavy transport helicopter (above) and the MH-60L Black Hawk tactical transport helicopter (below), to transport Delta Force and the DEA agents who carried out Maduro's arrest. From what we saw yesterday, there may also have been attack helicopters, most likely AH-1Z Vipers from the Marines, but this has not been confirmed.

---

Main photo: U.S. Navy.