Overview
- Multiple reports, including the Wall Street Journal, say US Navy EA-18G Growlers suppressed Venezuelan radars and communications during the January 3 operation.
- The electronic-attack aircraft reportedly created false targets and jammed links, clearing a path for strike and assault elements with minimal resistance.
- More than 150 US warplanes were described as participating, with Growlers operating alongside fighters, bombers, and reconnaissance drones.
- Venezuela’s network, built largely on older Soviet- and Russian-made systems with some Chinese radars, was described by experts as especially susceptible to sophisticated jamming.
- US officials have not detailed specific roles for the aircraft, but coverage emphasizes electronic-warfare dominance as a key factor in Maduro’s capture and transfer to New York on federal charges.