The Secret Weapon That Enabled the U.S. Operation to Capture Maduro: The 'Stealth Drone'

24-Hour Surveillance of Maduro's Movements
Also Used in Bin Laden Raid

The image of the RQ-170, a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) from the United States. AircraftSpot

It has been reported that the U.S. military deployed the RQ-170, a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), in the operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, drawing significant attention. The RQ-170 is capable of long-term reconnaissance in specific areas without being detected by enemy radar. It is known that the U.S. military was able to monitor President Maduro around the clock using this drone.

According to The War Zone (TWZ), a U.S. military-focused media outlet, the takeoff and landing of an RQ-170 drone were confirmed at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, on the 3rd (local time), the day the operation to arrest President Maduro in Venezuela was underway. TWZ reported, "At least one or two RQ-170s appear to have participated in this operation," adding, "Stealth drones have often been deployed in such operations, as they are capable of long-term surveillance of targets within conflict zones."

This drone, developed by the American defense contractor Lockheed Martin, was first deployed by the U.S. military in 2007 as a high-altitude reconnaissance drone. Featuring a manta ray-shaped fuselage similar to the B-2 stealth bomber and equipped with stealth capabilities, it can carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions deep within enemy airspace for extended periods without being detected.

Additionally, it is equipped with an electronically scanned radar specialized for Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI), as well as electro-optical and infrared video cameras that enable it to easily detect enemy movements even at night. The drone is also fitted with a variety of sensors for intercepting communications and gathering intelligence from various devices. According to TWZ, this allowed the U.S. military to track President Maduro's movements, monitor his daily routines, and assess the number and activities of his security personnel.

The U.S. Air Force's stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), the RQ-170, captured at a U.S. military base in Guam. U.S. Air Force

The New York Times (NYT) also quoted U.S. military officials as saying, "The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) dispatched agents to Venezuela starting in August last year to gather information on President Maduro's movements, and drones were utilized in the process." The report continued, "Through the intelligence obtained from surveillance, the U.S. military discovered that President Maduro was hiding in Tiuna Fortress, a military stronghold in Caracas, Venezuela, and subsequently formulated the arrest operation."

It is also believed that drones were used to attack Venezuela's air defense network prior to the execution of the U.S. military's arrest operation. At a press conference held immediately after the operation on the 3rd, Dan Kane, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated, "This operation involved F-22, F-35, and F-18 fighter jets, B-1 bombers, EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, E-2 early warning aircraft, and numerous remotely piloted drones," adding, "By utilizing more than 150 military aircraft and drones, we neutralized Venezuela's air defense systems and ensured the safe entry of special forces helicopters into the target area."

The RQ-170 also played a significant role in the 2011 operation to eliminate al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The footage transmitted by the RQ-170 allowed the operation to be broadcast live to the White House and military leadership in real time.

Additionally, the RQ-170 was responsible for long-term surveillance of Iran's nuclear facilities, during which one drone was captured by the Iranian military. At the time, the Iranian military claimed to have jammed the drone's communications to successfully capture the RQ-170. Although the U.S. government officially demanded its return, the Iranian government instead disassembled and reverse-engineered the RQ-170 to develop its own stealth drone, the Shahed-171. Since then, the U.S. Air Force has maintained strict secrecy regarding the operational status and the exact number of RQ-170 drones in service.