Venezuela has deployed its cutting-edge Su-30 Mk2 fighter jets armed with deadly Kh-31 anti-ship missiles (ASM) in response to the US military actions in the Caribbean.
Venezuela deployed the Russian-origin jets in a three-day military drill in the Caribbean amid rising tensions with the US over the latter’s anti-drug operations in the region.
Dubbed “Sovereign Caribbean 200,” the drills kicked off on September 18 at the island of La Orchila. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on national television that the exercises were a response by Venezuela to the US warships deployed to the region.
The US launched a massive military buildup in the South Caribbean as part of what it calls a war against drug cartels originating from Venezuela. This includes three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the cruiser Lake Erie, amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, and an unnamed nuclear-powered submarine. Additionally, it has deployed the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters and MQ-9 Reaper drones to Puerto Rico.
The Donald Trump administration has accused Venezuela-backed drug cartels of funnelling drugs into the US, describing President Nicholas Maduro as “one of the world’s largest drug traffickers, the head of the Cartel of the Suns, and a threat to US national security.”
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government, led by Nicolas Maduro, has vowed to defend itself against what it calls an unjust US military aggression.
Notably, the drills were launched following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the second US strike on a boat in international waters near Venezuela on September 16.
Trump said the US military has destroyed an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel travelling in international waters on the way to the US, killing three people. No evidence was provided to support claims that the vessel was carrying drugs.
The first strike, very similar to the recent one, took place on September 2, as earlier explained by the EurAsian Times.
BREAKING – Venezuelan Air Force shows off its Russian SU-30 armed with Russian supersonic Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles as tensions continue to rise between the US and Venezuela pic.twitter.com/MUTTUpMBP7
— PirateSmurf (@PirateSmurf3) September 16, 2025
After the US conducted the first strike, two Venezuelan F-16A/B fighters flew over a US Navy destroyer, USS Jason Dunham, on September 4. Thus, the deployment of Su-30Mk2 after the second strike appears to be in line with Venezuela’s strategy of militarily pushing back against the American aggression.
Earlier this week, the Latin American country released images of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets equipped with anti-ship missiles. These fighters could seriously threaten the armada of American warships sailing in Caribbean waters.
The Bolivarian Military Aviation, as the Venezuelan Air Force is known, released a video of the aircraft on Instagram. The footage first shows the Su-30Mk2 on the ground with the missiles dangling from the wings, and then in flight.
The post accompanying the visuals of the jets seen in the video was the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 MK2 fighters from the 13th “Lions” Fighter Air Group, armed with Russian Kh-31 anti-ship missiles.
However, the CNN confirmed that at least a part of this video had already been published in 2024, adding that there was no confirmation on when the rest of the footage was shot.
These jets are now potentially thundering over the Caribbean skies as part of the ongoing military drills. Meanwhile, some observers questioned the capability of a 4th-generation Su-30 to challenge the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters stationed in the region.
The Venezuelan Defense Minister said the drills will include air, sea, and land maneuvers and noted that twelve naval ships of various classes and types, 22 aircraft, and about 20 boats are due to participate in the high-stakes exercise.
The comments were broadcast on state-run television along with footage showing an amphibious landing of Bolivarian troops on a beach as warships sailed off the island and jets flew over the sea.
Venezuela’s Su-30MK2 & Kh-31 Combination
Venezuela reportedly acquired the Su-30Mk2 from Russia in the early 2000s due to the US arms embargo on spare parts for its F-16, which essentially crippled its air fleet. Some sources suggest that the country purchased a dozen of these jets, with deliveries occurring between 2007 and 2008.
It now operates about 21 Su-30MK2, but the exact number could not be verified as the service faces readiness issues. In fact, some sources state that overall readiness is low and at least five Su-30MK2 are currently in storage due to maintenance issues.
The Su-30MK2 variant is a two-seat multirole fighter derived from the Su-27 Flanker family, optimized for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with enhanced maritime strike capabilities.
It has a speed of Mach 2, a combat range of about 3,000 kilometres that can be extended with in-flight refuelling, and thrust-vectoring engines. The aircraft can carry up to 8,000 kilograms of ordnance across 12 hardpoints, including multiple Kh-31 missiles.
The aircraft is equipped with both anti-ship and anti-radar Kh-31 missiles, according to an open-source 2024 evaluation of different armed forces conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Sukhoi Su-30, when paired with the Kh-31 missile, forms a highly lethal combination due to the aircraft’s multirole capabilities and the missile’s high-speed, precision strike potential. This pairing excels in air-to-surface roles, particularly against naval vessels and ground-based radar systems, posing a significant threat to adversaries.
Notably, the Su-30’s multirole nature allows it to engage air, sea, and ground targets, making it a flexible platform for delivering Kh-31s in diverse scenarios.
The Kh-31 is a supersonic, ramjet-powered missile designed for anti-ship (Kh-31A) and anti-radiation (Kh-31P/PD) roles. This missile has a speed of 3,300–4,300 kilometres per hour, which reduces the reaction time of the adversary.
The Kh-31A anti-ship variant has a range of about 110 kilometres, whereas the Kh-31PD variant has a range of 250 kilometres, enabling standoff attacks.
The Kh-31A has a 94–100 kilogram high-explosive warhead that can cripple frigates or destroyers (3,000–10,000 tons) and, in salvos, threaten larger vessels like carriers. Meanwhile, the Kh-31PD variant is mainly designed to destroy air defense systems like SAM sites or ship radars, with about an 87-kilogram warhead.
In a nutshell, the standoff range and speed offered by the Su-30/Kh-31 missile make this combination a credible threat to high-value targets, including the US warships sailing in the Caribbean. This is, perhaps, why Venezuela has pulled these fighters out to deter an increasingly aggressive United States.
Adopted By Russia & India
The Su-30MK2 and Kh-31 missiles are a deadly combination, as seen in the grinding Ukraine War. The Kh-31P, christened the ‘Supersonic Death’ by Russian Su-30 pilots for its blistering speed and devastating counter-attack capabilities, has proven itself a scourge on the battlefields of Ukraine, with a staggering 98% success rate over several dozen launches.
Russia has also used the anti-ship Kh-31 variant to obliterate the asymmetric threat posed by the Ukrainian naval drones. For example, in July 2025, a Su-30 jet struck three Ukrainian naval drones with Kh-31 anti-ship missiles in the Black Sea.
The menace has also been endured by NATO forces. Earlier this month, a Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter intercepted two Russian Su-30SM/SM2 jets armed with Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles over the southern Baltic Sea. The Russian aircraft were patrolling near NATO airspace, projecting power amid ongoing tensions with the West.
Besides Russia, India has also integrated the Kh-31 onto its Su-30MKI fighters. In 2001, India acquired Kh-31 missiles, including 60 Kh-31A and 90 Kh-31P variants, for its Su-30MKI fighter jets.
Reports in July 2019 indicated that India was procuring additional Kh-31 missiles, likely the more potent D variant, solidifying its commitment to this Russian-built, battle-proven platform. In fact, India has now developed its own RudraM-II while drawing inspiration from the Kh-31.
In June 2022, the Algerian Air Force conducted exercises where Su-30MKA fighters launched Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles to train for “Wild Weasel” missions—suppressing enemy air defenses.
As one of the few export operators of the Kh-31 on Su-30s alongside India and China, this demonstrated Algeria’s capability to threaten radar systems in potential conflicts, such as regional disputes in North Africa.
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