Redacción: LaTabla/Plataforma de Periodismo de Datos | 28 de julio de 2025
🔍 New Incursion in Strategic Context
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) reported yesterday (27JUL2025) a new incursion involving an RC-135W Rivet Joint—an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform used by the U.S. Air Force—into international airspace adjacent to Venezuela. According to Defense Vice President, Vladimir Padrino López, the aircraft performed an “orbit” 80 miles north of Venezuelan territory during municipal elections, violating air security protocols.
This incursion was recorded just days after the renewal (announced last week) of Chevron’s license to operate in the country until 2026. The significance of Chevron appears relevant not just due to the economic importance of this authorization, but it also coincides with a previous electronic spying operation carried out on December 2, 2022, right when the contract was signed for the U.S. energy company to resume operations in Venezuela.
🛰️ Historical Pattern: Espionage and Energy
1. December 2022:
– An RC-135W flew for 8 hours over the Caribbean Sea off Venezuelan coasts, coinciding with the signing of the Chevron-PDVSA contract to reactivate oil production. The mission, tracked in real-time by the FANB, was linked to intelligence collection on energy infrastructure and military movements.
2. 2019-2021 Wave:
– 2019: The Aerospace Defense Command (CODAI) documented over 70 incursions of RC-135 and other spy planes (like the EP-3E) in the airspace of Maiquetía. These operations included interception of government communications and geolocation of radar systems, especially in the Gulf of Venezuela and border areas with Colombia.
– April 2021: An RC-135W operated from Colombian airspace (Arauca) for 4 hours, monitoring Venezuelan military deployments in Apure. The aircraft used SIGINT/ELINT sensors to capture air defense signals, coordinating with KC-135 tanker planes.
⚙️ Technical Capabilities of the RC-135W: the “Electronic Ear”
– Advanced sensors:
– Rivet Joint System: Intercepts communications (radio, satellite) and geolocates radar emitters within a 400 km radius, even in urban environments.
– Real-time analysis: Translates and processes signals through linguists and analysts on board, transmitting data via satellite to command centers in the U.S.
– Crew: 27-30 specialists, including electronic warfare officers and signal intelligence (SIGINT) experts.
– Logistics: Operates from Offutt AFB, Nebraska (55th Wing of the USAF), with extended range through aerial refueling. Of the 17 active units, 3 are deployed in the Caribbean.
🎯 Strategic Objectives and Venezuelan Response
– Focus on Energy Resources:
– 6 out of every 10 incursions since 2019 coincided with Chevron milestones: license renewals (2025), start of operations (2022), or production changes. The oil company extracts 200,000 barrels daily (23% of national production), providing macroeconomic stability.
– Military Intelligence:
– Missions gather data on defense systems (e.g., Russian S-300VM radars), FANB movements, and communication traffic in oil facilities like the Petropiar complex in the Orinoco Belt.
– Venezuelan Countermeasures:
– Interceptions with Su-30MK2 fighters (2019) and deployment of Chinese JY-27A radars to detect stealth targets.
– Diplomatic complaints in international forums for violations of sovereign airspace.
💎 Conclusion: Persistent Pattern, Ongoing Tensions
The RC-135W—upgraded in 2005 with CFM-56 engines and a digital cockpit—reaffirms its role as a strategic surveillance tool for the U.S. in Venezuela. Its reemergence in July 2025, synchronized with Chevron’s extension, highlights a recurring modus operandi since 2019: intelligence operations aligned with sensitive events, amplifying friction in a landscape of sanctions and energy reconfiguration. The FANB remains alert to what it calls “undeclared electronic warfare,” while Chevron continues as an economic pivot amid geopolitical tensions.