Venezuelan Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters drop live bombs as a warning message to the US military in the Caribbean (video)
Arab Defense Website – October 11, 2025: In a display of capabilities, Venezuelan Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters carried out bombing operations with FAB-250 bombs in defiance of the American presence in the region.
The Venezuelan Air Force published a video clip showing a Sukhoi Su-30MK2 plane dropping live bombs during military exercises over the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The recording dates back to October 7, 2025, and it received widespread spread on social media and international attention, due to its coincidence with the escalation of the US naval presence in the region and the increase in tension between Caracas and Washington.
The video shows the plane dropping two Soviet-made FAB-250 M-54 unguided bombs. The explosions led to the formation of two rising clouds in the form of a “double mushroom,” which highlights Venezuela’s preservation of its ability to carry out conventional bombing missions, despite financial restrictions and international sanctions.
The exercise shows that the Venezuelan Air Force is still capable of operating Su-30MK2 aircraft as heavy attack platforms, capable of carrying out operations against both land and sea targets.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, the FAB-250 bombs “weigh 250 kg, contain 99 kg of explosive, have an impact range of 120 metres, and can destroy personnel, equipment and light fortifications.”
| Images show a Su-30MK2 multirole fighter of the Venezuelan Air Force launching two FAB bombs during a training exercise. pic.twitter.com/DIhPHywhjL
— Radar Austral (@RadarAustral_) October 8, 2025
The Su-30MK2 is the most advanced fighter in service in Venezuela, and it is a derivative of the famous Russian aircraft “Flanker”, specially modified for naval strikes and deep penetration operations.
The aircraft is powered by two AL-31F engines and can carry up to 8,000 kg of weapons on 12 external suspension points. It is equipped with the N001VEP radar capable of guiding Kh-31A anti-ship and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles.
Venezuela received 24 aircraft of this type between 2006 and 2008, becoming the only country in Latin America to operate the most advanced version of the “Flanker” fighter.
The use of conventional bombs such as the M-54 indicates that Venezuela is seeking to maintain its basic aerial bombing capabilities, which is crucial given its limited budget and difficulty in obtaining guided munitions.
According to military analysts, the 250-kg bomb is still effective in destroying runways, fuel depots and fixed coastal targets, and its integration with the Su-30MK2’s radar and navigation systems allows for quick and low-cost strikes from temporary air bases.
The Venezuelan National Bolivarian Air Force (AMV) maintains a diverse fleet that combines Western and Eastern technologies, giving it a flexible operational capability despite economic constraints.
In the field of combat aircraft, Venezuela relies on 22 Russian Su-30MK2 multirole fighters, along with 20 American F-16A fighters and four twin F-16B combat trainers, as well as six older F-5A aircraft in service.
For special missions, the AMV operates a Fairchild Metroliner III electronic reconnaissance aircraft and a modified Boeing 707 air-to-air refueling aircraft.
In military transport, the Venezuelan fleet includes three American-made C-130H Hercules heavy transport aircraft, eight Chinese Y-8 aircraft, in addition to a mixture of medium and light aircraft such as the German Dornier Do 228NG, the British Short 360, the American King Air and the Cessna of various models.
In the field of training, the Air Force relies on 23 Chinese Hongdu K-8 aircraft and 18 Brazilian Embraer EMB 312 aircraft, in addition to the Italian Diamond DA42 and SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 aircraft. It also operates American Enstrom 280 and Enstrom 480 light helicopters.
This combination is completed by its possession of about ten SANT Arpia drones, which are a licensed local copy of the Iranian Mohajer drone, which enhances Venezuela’s capabilities in aerial surveillance and reconnaissance.
The article Venezuelan Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters drop live bombs in a warning message to the US military in the Caribbean (video) appeared first on the Arab Defense website.
