Discover the decisive role played by the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in Operation Absolute Resolve, which neutralized Venezuelan defenses to capture Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. A technical dive into this daring mission.
Summary
Operation Absolute Resolve, carried out on January 3, 2026, saw the United States capture Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. More than 150 aircraft, including F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs, were deployed from 20 bases in the Western Hemisphere. These fifth-generation fighters spearheaded strikes to neutralize Venezuela’s integrated air defense systems, consisting of Russian S-300 radars and surface-to-air missiles. The F-22s ensured air superiority, while the F-35s provided electronic warfare support and precision strikes. Operating with B-1B Lancers, they paved the way for helicopters carrying Delta Force troops. The operation, delayed by bad weather, lasted less than three hours with no American casualties. It demonstrates the effectiveness of stealth technologies against contested environments. The lessons learned emphasize joint integration, and the message to the world warns against regimes involved in narco-terrorism.
The context of Operation Absolute Resolve
Operation Absolute Resolve took place on the night of January 3, 2026. U.S. forces targeted Nicolás Maduro, accused of narco-terrorism by the Department of Justice. This mission involved massive coordination to extract Maduro from his fortified compound in Caracas.
Preparations began months earlier. Intelligence reports indicate that the United States monitored Maduro via informants and drones. A full-scale model of his residence was used for special forces training. Bad weather delayed the assault for several days, until conditions allowed for a launch at 10:46 p.m. Eastern Time.
More than 150 aircraft took off from 20 bases. Helicopters transported Delta Force commandos, who forced their way in with blowtorches. Maduro attempted to flee to a bunker but surrendered. The operation ended at 3:29 a.m. Eastern Time, with Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
The strategic positioning of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II
The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II were gradually positioned starting in November 2025. Twelve F-22s from the 1st Fighter Wing, based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, landed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico on December 15, 2025. These aircraft joined F-35As from the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard, which arrived on December 21, 2025, for Operation Southern Spear.
The Marines’ F-35Bs, operating from amphibious ships such as the USS Iwo Jima, completed the deployment. This positioning provided persistent air cover over the Caribbean. The aircraft flew at altitudes ranging from 12,000 to 18,000 meters (40,000 to 60,000 feet), ready to respond in less than 30 minutes. This deployment was intended to counter Venezuelan defenses, including S-300 systems covering a radius of 200 kilometers (124 miles).
Reconnaissance flights began on December 12, 2025, with F-35s testing enemy radars. This buildup culminated with integration into the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, anchored 500 kilometers (310 miles) off the Venezuelan coast.
Tactical use of fighters in penetration strikes
The F-22 Raptors were used to establish air superiority. These aircraft, capable of speeds of 2,410 kilometers per hour (1,500 miles per hour), neutralized potential air threats. Armed with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, they operated in supercruise mode, reaching Mach 1.5 without afterburners for increased stealth.
F-35 Lightning II aircraft provided electronic warfare support. Equipped with the AN/APG-81 system, they detected and jammed Venezuelan radars at a range of over 250 kilometers (155 miles).
Precision strikes with 900-kilogram (2,000-pound) JDAM bombs destroyed surface-to-air missile sites near Caracas. These actions created a safe air corridor for CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Both types of fighters collaborated with B-1B Lancers for high-altitude bombing. A specific example: at 1:45 a.m. local time, an F-35 guided a strike on a coastal radar, eliminating a threat in 45 seconds. This synergy minimized exposure, with the F-22s covering the F-35s during vulnerable phases.
Speed and efficiency of air operations
The strikes demonstrated remarkable speed. The F-22 Raptors reached Caracas in 25 minutes from Puerto Rico, covering 1,200 kilometers (745 miles). Their radar signature, reduced to 0.0001 square meters, prevented early detection.
Efficiency was measured by the absence of American losses. Despite engagements in self-defense, where helicopters came under fire, the fighters retaliated with AGM-88 HARM missiles, taking out 15 enemy sites. The F-35s operated with an accuracy of less than 3 meters (10 feet), destroying targets without excessive collateral damage.
Compared to past operations such as the 1989 invasion of Panama, which mobilized 27,000 troops, Absolute Resolve succeeded with a fraction of the resources, thanks to stealth technology. The aircraft maintained 70% availability, compared to 50% for previous generations, proving their robustness in hostile environments.
Lessons learned from this daring mission
This operation reveals clear lessons about joint integration. The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II showed that stealth takes precedence over numbers. Their coordination with the Space Force for real-time satellite data enabled dynamic planning, adjusting flight paths in flight.
A Venezuelan flaw exploited: the S-300 systems, obsolete in the face of the F-35’s advanced jamming algorithms. The United States has learned to optimize in-flight refueling, with KC-135s covering 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) without stopping. However, bad weather highlights vulnerability to environmental factors, prompting more advanced simulations.
Logistically, rapid deployment from distant bases highlights the need for pre-positioned stocks. Absolute Resolve validated the use of RQ-170 drones to relay data to fighters, strengthening the chain of command.
Messages sent to the rest of the world
This mission sends a strong signal to potential adversaries. The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II demonstrate that the United States can penetrate defended airspace without massive escalation. For China and Russia, suppliers of weapons to Venezuela, this is a warning: their technologies are no match for American innovation.
The success without US casualties underscores a doctrine of precision, deterring regimes like Maduro’s. It raises questions about sovereignty, with Venezuelan complaints to the UN. In the long term, this operation could inspire coalitions against narco-terrorism, but it risks increasing regional tensions, forcing countries like Brazil to reconsider their alliances. Stealth fighters are redefining warfare, where technology dictates the victors, inviting the world to invest in countermeasures or negotiate.
Sources:
- BBC: Spies, drones and blowtorches: How the US captured Maduro
- Fox News: US military details timeline of operation to capture Maduro
- Reuters: Mock house, CIA source and Special Forces: The US operation to capture Maduro
- YouTube: Operation Absolute Resolve
- Army Technology: What US aircraft were used in Operation Absolute Resolve?
- The War Zone: U.S. Will Now “Run” Venezuela After Maduro Capture
- Air & Space Forces Magazine: US Airpower Paved Way for Special Ops to Capture Venezuela’s Maduro
- The Aviationist: New Details Emerge about Operation Absolute Resolve
- Wikipedia: 2026 United States strikes in Venezuela
- X Posts: Wes Andrews, WOLF DEFENSE, Dr. Ben Braddock, Arda, Defense Intelligence, Laurentiu B., WAR, Lev, Defiant Ghost, Alex Salvi, WORLD AT WAR, Dillon, BMs
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