A United States Navy surveillance drone, the MQ-4C Triton with the call sign BLKCAT6, embarked on an extensive reconnaissance mission over Cuba on Thursday night. The aircraft flew along the island's southern coast and later approached the vicinity of Havana.
The flight was publicly tracked using Flightradar24 and reported by open-source intelligence accounts such as FlconEYES and OSINTtechnical.
This drone, bearing the registration number 169806 and built by Northrop Grumman, operated at altitudes ranging from 49,000 to 49,100 feet—approximately 15,000 meters—traveling at cruising speeds of 308 knots. It executed orbit patterns typical of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
FlconEYES reported, "The last ping before entering Cuban FIR suggests a straight-line vector crossing west over Pinar del Río," and noted that the aircraft "circled south of Santiago de Cuba, with the entire flight path skirting the southern coast of the island within Cuban airspace."
As of 1:12 UTC on Friday, the drone was positioned near Havana. OSINTtechnical confirmed, "A high-altitude U.S. Navy surveillance drone continues an extensive reconnaissance mission over Cuba tonight. The drone is now flying around Havana."
The flight coincided with the nearby passage of a Venezuelan regime's private jet, registration YV1776, although they operated at different altitudes, as reported by FlconEYES.
The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance maritime surveillance drone developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Navy, capable of covering up to four million square nautical miles in a 24-hour mission.
This flight is not an isolated event, particularly as the United States conducts operations in the Caribbean Sea. In February 2026, another MQ-4C Triton, identified as BLKCAT5, was detected north of the Cuban archipelago, accompanied by RC-135V/W Rivet Joint and P-8 Poseidon spy planes.
Both operations are part of Operation Southern Spear, launched in September 2025 under the Southern Command, with an estimated cost of $3 billion.
The Thursday flight occurred on the same day Díaz-Canel warned of a potential U.S. military aggression during the 65th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Socialist Character of the Revolution.
"The current moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be ready to confront serious threats, including military aggression. We do not seek it, but it is our duty to prepare to avoid it and, if inevitable, to win," stated the leader.
Key Questions About U.S. Surveillance Flights Around Cuba
What is the MQ-4C Triton?
The MQ-4C Triton is a maritime surveillance drone developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Navy, designed for high-altitude, long-endurance missions.
Why was the drone flying around Cuba?
The drone was conducting a reconnaissance mission as part of ongoing U.S. operations in the Caribbean, likely for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes.
What is Operation Southern Spear?
Operation Southern Spear is a U.S. military initiative launched in September 2025 under the Southern Command, aimed at enhancing security and surveillance in the Caribbean region.
How did the Cuban government respond to the drone flight?
Cuban leader Díaz-Canel issued a warning about potential U.S. military aggression, urging readiness to face such threats while commemorating a historic revolutionary anniversary.