More U.S. Spy Planes and Drones Are Surveilling Cuba

U.S. military and intelligence agencies have increased surveillance flights around and near Cuba in recent weeks, several U.S. officials said. The effort is part of a publicly visible campaign experts say is aimed at sending Cuban authorities a message: we’re watching you.

Navy and Air Force surveillance planes and drones have increased reconnaissance flights as part of what is expected to be a larger overall military buildup in the Caribbean in the coming weeks, two of the U.S. officials said. They and the other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence or operational matters.

For weeks, aviation enthusiasts have shared social media posts about reconnaissance planes, such as the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, spotted on public tracking websites approaching Cuban shores.

Flights by that model, the RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic-eavesdropping plane, the MQ-4 high-altitude reconnaissance drone and other drones have increased in frequency since February, often near Cuba’s coast, a U.S. military official said.

CNN, which reported the increased intelligence flights, said it analyzed publicly available FlightRadar 24 data showing that the Navy and Air Force had conducted at least 25 such flights using manned aircraft and drones since early February. Most were near Cuba’s two biggest cities, Havana, the capital, and Santiago de Cuba, in the southeastern part of the country.

Flight tracking data typically does not pick up spy agency drones, making the actual number of flights unknown.

Experts say the United States has historically conducted few surveillance flights near Cuba despite decades of poor relations between the two countries, making the recent spate of flights notable.

U.S. Southern Command, which directs military forces and activities in the region, declined to comment.

The Cuban government did not respond to requests for comment.

The U.S. military official said the surveillance flights were designed to give American political and military leaders greater insights into Cuba at a critical moment.

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