The presence of American aircraft in Guyana was indirectly confirmed by video amid Venezuela's dispute over the Essequibo region.
AC130J | U.S. Air Force photo by Jaima Fogg
As noted on the 7th, the US flew alongside the Guyanese military days after a referendum in Venezuela determined that the territory belonged to the country and not its neighbor.
Days later, AEROIN exclusively noted that the flights were operated as part of the U.S.Guyana defense partnership, although it did not specify which aircraft were used where.
Now the US Special Forces Southern Command, which is responsible for the Latin America and the Caribbean region, has released a video in which a Hercules aircraft can be seen firing at targets in the Caribbean Sea exactly on the 7th, without the exact Location has been confirmed.
The operation was carried out by a Lockheed AC130J Ghostrider, a ground attack version of the Hercules, equipped with a 30 mm cannon, another 105 mm cannon and the ability to carry GBU39 small diameter bombs on the wings bombs GBU69, AGM114 Hellfire antitank missiles and AMG176 Griffin missiles guided by laser and/or GPS.
In the following video, taken from another aircraft with an infrared camera, it is possible to see the AC130J's cannons in action, firing into the sea:
“Variable Fire” assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air Command @Hurlburt_Field conducts an airtoground fire exercise during training over the Caribbean Sea on December 7, 2023, this time taking advantage of the measured but destructive firepower of the 105mm cannon aboard an AC130J gunship. … pic.twitter.com/HLts4gwm61
—SOCSOUTH (@SOCSOUTH) December 12, 2023
“Fire for Impact” An AC130J Ghostrider attack helicopter takes aim at training targets over the Caribbean Sea, December 7, 2023. Our #SOF Air Forces routinely conduct training and exercises @SOUTHCOM Responsibility to remain sharp and agile to support the joint force and… pic.twitter.com/r3b8a0lKqs
—SOCSOUTH (@SOCSOUTH) December 11, 2023
The aircraft became famous in the Call of Duty and Battlefield game series as well as the first film in the Transformers series, in which it is used to provide air support to American soldiers in the fight against a Decepticon robot: