DefenseVenezuelan Su-30MK2 Fighters Display Kh-31 Anti-Ship Missiles Over Caribbean
The Venezuelan Air Force published footage showing two Su-30MK2 fighters armed with Kh-31 anti-ship missiles flying over the Caribbean Sea on October 29.
The release comes amid an increase in US naval activity near Venezuelan territorial waters, which Caracas describes as coercive military pressure.
The video documents the Su-30MK2s in close formation, each carrying Kh-31 missiles designed for high speed and low radar observability during maritime strike missions.
The Kh-31 system provides Venezuela with the ability to target surface vessels at extended ranges, representing a credible deterrent to foreign naval assets.
By showcasing these capabilities, Venezuelan authorities signal that US Navy ships operating near its coast may face a credible threat of air-launched missile attack.
The operational pairing of Su-30MK2 platforms with Kh-31 missiles complicates US Navy mission planning in the region, particularly for patrols and freedom of navigation operations. The Kh-31 missile can hit targets up to 110 km away at a speed of up to Mach 3.5.
The timing and content of the video serve as a reminder of Venezuela’s intention to assert control over its airspace and maritime routes. The country relies exclusively on Russian weaponry, but the current state of relations between the two countries is unknown, with Moscow focused on the war with Ukraine.
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Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
