Why haven't the US warships and aircraft taken action yet? Two Eastern missiles have made their move, and Venezuela is secretly relieved!
Recently, the United States has gathered the "Iwo Jima" amphibious assault ship, the "Lake Erie" cruiser, three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and a nuclear submarine of an undisclosed model near the coast of Venezuela.
In addition, F-35 stealth fighters and MQ-9 drones have also been stationed at an air force base in Puerto Rico. This deployment far exceeds the usual needs for drug enforcement, triggering a strong reaction from Venezuela. The US military has fired four times in international waters of the Caribbean Sea, sinking so-called "drug trafficking vessels," resulting in the deaths of several Venezuelan citizens. These actions have further escalated regional tensions.
However, why hasn't the Pentagon ordered a large-scale attack on Venezuela yet? The Kh-31P and Kh-31A missiles are probably the biggest concern for US commanders. The Kh-31 missile can reach a maximum speed of 3.5 Mach, posing a serious threat to most non-Aegis US warships.
In the Ukraine conflict, the Russian Aerospace Forces used the Kh-31PD missile, which is equipped with a wideband seeker that can detect enemy radars operating within the 1.2-11 GHz frequency range. This enables it to effectively attack the detection radars of medium-range air defense missile systems, airspace control, or maritime surveillance radars.
Even if Venezuela only has 16 available Su-30MK2 fighter jets, as long as each carries two Kh-31 missiles, they would be sufficient to pose a substantive threat to American ships. Especially with the support of land-based radar and command systems, these aircraft can carry out a "hit-and-run" tactic in key sea areas, further increasing the difficulty of US defense.
Therefore, this is also the reason why the US has not taken action with its large number of warships and aircraft so far. It is estimated that Venezuela will also be secretly relieved.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846576089551884/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.