US warships near Venezuela could face threat from Russian-made missiles

CARACAS, Venezuela (MNTV) – Defense experts have warned that US warships deployed off Venezuela’s coast could face a serious threat from Russian-made anti-ship missiles in the event of a confrontation, according to an analysis by The War Zone, a publication specializing in military technology.

The report said Venezuela’s air force operates Kh-31A supersonic missiles — known to NATO as the AS-17 “Krypton” — which can target US naval vessels in the Caribbean. These missiles, launched from the country’s Su-30MK2V Flanker jets, remain one of its strongest deterrents against foreign intervention.

“The Kh-31A is a threat to be taken seriously,” the analysis said, noting the weapon can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 and perform high-speed maneuvers that make interception difficult. The missile carries a 192-pound warhead capable of penetrating a ship’s hull before detonating.

Venezuela operates 21 Su-30 fighters, many filmed carrying the Kh-31A during military drills along the coast. The War Zone added it is unclear whether Caracas also possesses the Kh-31P variant, designed to target radar systems.

US forces currently stationed in the Caribbean include the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group and several guided missile destroyers and cruisers equipped with advanced air-defense systems.

However, experts warned that Venezuelan aircraft operating within missile range pose a “tactical challenge,” as the missile’s speed allows “very little reaction time” for ships near the coastline.

In early September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized a US strike on a vessel off Venezuela’s coast, warning that Washington’s actions in the Caribbean risk “far-reaching consequences for the region.”