Lockheed-Verified: RQ-170 Drones Aided Maduro Raid

Lockheed Martin has publicly confirmed that its RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drones participated in the January 3, 2026 operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (Operation Absolute Resolve), alongside F-35s, F-22s, and other assets. The exact role of the drones remains undisclosed, but analysts say Sentinels could have provided persistent overhead surveillance and real-time intelligence for planning and post-strike assessments, underscoring the drone’s potential in high-stakes operations.