A Look At What The U.S. Is Using To Strike Alleged Drug Boats In The Caribbean And Pacific

Since the United States launched its counter-narcotics campaign in South America, the military has carried out at least 19 airstrikes against vessels suspected of being linked to drug trafficking organizations. The operations, which began in early September, have killed at least 76 people, whom U.S. officials have described as "narco-terrorists."

According to a new report by CNN, most of the airstrikes have been conducted by MQ-9 Reaper drones, which can be operated remotely by the military and are typically armed with Hellfire missiles, air-to-ground, laser-guided munitions capable of destroying tanks.

Sources familiar with the assets being deployed to South America told the outlet the U.S. military is using a mix of drones, gunships, and fighter jets, which have also targeted vessels suspected of carrying drugs.

CNN reports that some of the strikes have been carried out by manned aircraft, including AC-130J gunships and fighter jets, although the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed which aircrafts are conducting the operations.

The outlet says the U.S. military has concentrated many of its deployed assets in Puerto Rico, including MQ-9 drones, F-35 fighter jets, and at least one AC-130J gunship.

At least seven MQ-9 Reapers are based in Puerto Rico, according to photos captured in Aguadilla, and they are primarily used to strike targets with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

Lawmakers remain divided over the financial cost of the U.S. counter-narcotics campaign in South America and have pressed Pentagon officials to clarify how much the operations are costing taxpayers. People familiar with recent congressional briefings told CNN that defense officials have not provided a clear estimate, offering only general figures and acknowledging that each mission is expensive when aircraft and weapons costs are included.

The report says a single Hellfire missile can cost about $150,000, while operating a Reaper drone costs roughly $3,500 per hour. Fighter jets such as the F-35 cost around $40,000 per hour to fly, according to CNN.

Since late August, additional U.S. military assets have moved into the Pacific and Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier despite an already large presence of American forces in the region.

In addition to the Ford aircraft carrier, the United States also announced the deployment of the USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser tasked with "ensuring stability, deterring threats, and strengthening interoperability with naval forces across the Western Hemisphere."

The expanded mission now includes more than eight surface vessels, a special operations support ship, a fast-attack submarine, and over 10,000 personnel.