Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US military drone strike on drug 'submersible' in Caribbean leaves survivors, official confirms
Fox News ^ | 10/16/25 | Jasmine Baehr, Lucas Y. Tomlinson

Posted on 10/17/2025 5:08:45 AM PDT by Libloather

A U.S. military drone strike in the Caribbean on a drug smuggling vessel Thursday left two to three survivors, a U.S. official tells Fox News.

The partially submerged vessel, described by the source as "big," was operating in international waters when it was hit.

The U.S. military launched search and rescue assets, including a rescue helicopter, but it is not clear if any of the survivors were rescued, the official said.

The extent of their injuries was not immediately known, the official added.

As Reuters first reported, Thursday's incident marks the first known instance of survivors since U.S. forces began its campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug boats.

The drone-fired strike marked at least the sixth known incident in a quiet but intensifying U.S. military campaign targeting drug boats.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Military/Veterans; Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: caribbean; cartels; drone; dronestrike; drugs; official; smuggling; sub; submersible; survivors
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last
To: Libloather

Okay! I have been waiting for the semisubs to become targets. They have become evermore advanced boats and move a lot of product.


41 posted on 10/17/2025 8:35:29 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l *.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

Provied and attorney?


42 posted on 10/17/2025 8:37:25 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l *.-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: jjotto

Thanks.


43 posted on 10/17/2025 9:37:49 AM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
Interesting fact about that message. The US Navy used to use a simple encryption/decryption booklet. I trained on them in SWOS in the mid-80's but no idea if they still use them.

There were pages of military terms in alphabetical order with an random 4 digit number to encrypt it. That was followed by pages of numbers 001-999 for decryption. The person who encrypted the message was kind of lazy and managed to write the message without ever leaving the S page.

44 posted on 10/17/2025 10:28:33 AM PDT by atomic_dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei

“They need bigger bombs. None of that 250 lb SDB crap. 2,000 lbs or bust.”

This was a drone strike most likely a Reaper from Porto Rico certainly has the range and loiter time.

Given there is USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) off shore the new STOL MQ-9B kit would let the Navy launch a Reaper directly from the Two more than doubling the loiter time. Either way it’s not dropping bombs it’s launching Hellfire missiles which are the perfect size to smash a 50+ mph go fast boat. SDB and 500-2000# JDAMs are GPS guided and would not be a good choice for a 50+ mph speeding target. There is a couple of Gucci expensive seeker head versions for the SDB and JDAM but why spend half a million on a narco boat use a much cheaper Hellfire or better 70mm laser guided APKW rocket at half the cost of a Hellfire or less. The Ukrainians are using the APKW to shoot drones down so you know it has at least 10G maneuverability more than enough for fast moving surface targets.

https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9b-stol


45 posted on 10/17/2025 2:39:23 PM PDT by GenXPolymath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: jjotto

The Navy and Marine’s also got the STOL kits for amphibious ship launched Reapers too.

https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9b-stol


46 posted on 10/17/2025 2:42:24 PM PDT by GenXPolymath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Dang, missed some by “that much”!


47 posted on 10/17/2025 2:44:42 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GenXPolymath

[This was a drone strike most likely a Reaper from Porto Rico certainly has the range and loiter time.

Given there is USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) off shore the new STOL MQ-9B kit would let the Navy launch a Reaper directly from the Two more than doubling the loiter time. Either way it’s not dropping bombs it’s launching Hellfire missiles which are the perfect size to smash a 50+ mph go fast boat. SDB and 500-2000# JDAMs are GPS guided and would not be a good choice for a 50+ mph speeding target. There is a couple of Gucci expensive seeker head versions for the SDB and JDAM but why spend half a million on a narco boat use a much cheaper Hellfire or better 70mm laser guided APKW rocket at half the cost of a Hellfire or less. The Ukrainians are using the APKW to shoot drones down so you know it has at least 10G maneuverability more than enough for fast moving surface targets.]


Thanks. The SDB-II, which can hit moving targets, is said to be $200K. Given that go fast boats are in the same range, the exchange ratio, cost-wise, seems reasonable. Having to treat injured dope peddlers gratis really throws off the cost-benefit ratio. Hence the need for a 2000 lb. It’s the only way to be sure.


48 posted on 10/17/2025 4:41:52 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: arthurus

Damn autocorrect


49 posted on 10/18/2025 2:47:47 AM PDT by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei

Quicksink is expected to be $50,000 in serial production it has a MMW & IIR seeker head for the JDAM line so you could put it on a 2000# or a 500# the Reaper can carry 500s and 1000# too. The Hellfire is being replaced with a dual or triple seeker missile of the same size but not $70,000 it’s $350,000 in pure MIC crony capitalism bloat. Look up the AGM-179 JAGM its a shameful level of the MIC at work.

As for treating narcos these are enemy combatants they are going to GITMO not coming to the courts here so patch them up enough to stand military tribunal before execution as pirates and/or noncoms.

We really need to capture one of those boats or subs with full 4K video and body cams showing the world the drugs just to shut the commies argument down. Then resume shock and awe. The goal is not smashing narcos that’s cover for the regime change we are about to do to Venezuela. SOCOM is already in Panama and Rico it’s when not if at this point. They sent at least one AC-130J that’s SOCOM’s brother in the sky on overwatch. We took out the leader of Panama we are going to take out Venezuela too. Drugs was the excuse for both.


50 posted on 10/18/2025 3:46:40 PM PDT by GenXPolymath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson