Gate News message, April 19 — The U.S. Navy’s advanced MQ-4C “Sea God” drone conducted reconnaissance over Cuban airspace on April 16. The aircraft flew at an altitude of about 1.5 kilometers, with a single flight lasting more than 12 hours. According to flight-tracking data, the plane took off from the Naval Station Jacksonville in Florida and repeatedly detoured to Havana and Guantanamo Bay during the mission. The “Sea God” (Triton), manufactured by Northrop Grumman, is estimated to be worth $238 million per unit as of 2025, making it one of the most advanced strategic reconnaissance assets in the U.S. military inventory. The drone is designed for long-duration maritime surveillance and is equipped with sensors capable of monitoring vast ocean areas and coastlines. Military analysts at Defense Blog noted that the drone’s repeated flight patterns indicate it has been in a continuous surveillance state rather than conducting routine transit. A representative from Flight24 said this marks the first time such a drone has come so close to Cuba, even though similar models have been tracked in multiple conflict zones worldwide, from the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf. The operation took place as U.S. policy attention on Cuba increased. USA Today reported that the Pentagon is developing military contingency plans related to possible actions involving Cuba. The U.S. Department of Defense said it remains prepared for all kinds of emergencies and will carry out orders immediately after a presidential directive is issued. Earlier, this development continued from Donald Trump’s remarks in March: he said he was confident about “taking over” Cuba, and later hinted that military intervention might occur if a conflict with Iran were to end.