US military aircraft approved to operate from Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic government has authorized several United States military aircraft to land and operate in the country in the coming days as part of an operational support deployment in the Caribbean.

According to officials, the aircraft have been granted temporary permits to operate from restricted areas at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport. The cooperation agreement allows for surveillance, transport, and technical support missions.

Aircraft expected to participate include the KC-130 tanker and the C-130 Hercules, two of the U.S. Air Force’s most widely used and versatile aircraft.

The C-130 Hercules, which has been in service since 1954, is one of the most successful military transport aircraft in history. Originally designed for rugged operations during the Cold War, the aircraft has been deployed in conflicts such as Vietnam and Desert Storm, as well as in major humanitarian missions, including disaster response efforts in Haiti, during Hurricane Katrina in the United States, and in other global emergency zones.

The KC-130, introduced in the 1960s, functions as both a tanker and logistics aircraft, providing aerial refueling for fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. It has supported military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, and has also been used for nighttime special operations and personnel transport.

Authorities have not disclosed flight schedules or the total number of aircraft involved. However, officials indicated that the deployment may support maritime and aerial surveillance, the movement of sensitive equipment, logistics for regional security operations, in-flight refueling, and the transportation of technical personnel.

The mission forms part of ongoing security and technical cooperation agreements between the Dominican Republic and the United States, as both countries continue to collaborate on regional security initiatives in the Caribbean.