Venezuela's 'Invincible' Buk-M2E Defense System Annihilated in US Strike

• On January 3, 2026, a US air strike destroyed Venezuela's Russian-supplied Buk-M2E air defense system at La Carlota Airbase in Caracas.
• The Buk-M2E, considered Caracas's 'invincible defender', was a modern medium-range system crucial for Venezuela's air defense.
• The system was annihilated in a surprise SEAD strike, reportedly not on operational alert and facing maintenance issues, allowing US F-35s and drones to operate freely.
• Its destruction created a significant gap in Venezuela's air defense, raising questions about Russian weapon reliability and highlighting US technological superiority.
• The incident underscores the critical role of surprise, SEAD operations, intelligence, maintenance, and rapid reaction in modern warfare.

Why It Matters: US strike on Buk-M2E reveals modern warfare's reliance on surprise, tech, and maintenance.