Aviation units of the United States Marine Corps are arming F-35B fighters stationed in Puerto Rico as they prepare for combat missions in the Caribbean.
New images released by the Marine Corps show F-35B Lightning II aircraft being loaded with GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition at José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Puerto Rico.
The movements are part of ongoing missions led by U.S. Southern Command and the Department of Defense, under President Trump’s orders to “combat illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.”
The Marine Corps stated that the activity demonstrates the squadron’s readiness to conduct missions throughout the Caribbean as part of Southern Command’s broader effort to monitor, intercept, and deter criminal networks that use the region’s air and maritime corridors for smuggling.
Although operations are taking place outside the United States, they target trafficking routes that directly affect U.S. communities and law enforcement agencies.
Photo: Michael Gavin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
