Newly released imagery confirms that the U.S. Air Force has deployed a seventh MQ-9A Reaper drone from Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, further expanding unmanned surveillance operations across the Caribbean. The move underscores Washington’s increasing reliance on long-endurance unmanned aircraft to support counter-narcotics missions, monitor maritime routes, and reinforce regional security cooperation near Venezuela and the southern Caribbean.
The MQ-9A Reaper was recently observed operating from the former military airfield, known locally as BQN, which has steadily evolved into a key forward hub for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. U.S. defense officials have previously highlighted the strategic value of the location, citing its proximity to major maritime drug trafficking corridors linking South America, Central America, and the southeastern United States.
The additional Reaper joins a growing fleet of unmanned aircraft supporting U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force South, which coordinates multinational counter-narcotics and interdiction efforts. Analysts note a visible increase in MQ-9A flight activity over the Mona Passage and deeper into the Caribbean basin, with some routes extending toward Venezuelan airspace while remaining within international corridors. The expansion reflects a shift toward persistent ISR coverage in a region where manned patrol aircraft face endurance and availability constraints.
Equipped with full-motion video and synthetic aperture radar, the Reapers operating from Puerto Rico are optimized for maritime domain awareness, enabling detection of go-fast boats and semi-submersible vessels used by drug trafficking networks. Defense sources indicate that deploying MQ-9As from Aguadilla allows the U.S. to preserve limited P-8 Poseidon and Coast Guard aircraft for broader missions, while maintaining continuous overwatch with a smaller operational footprint.
