President Donald Trump dramatically escalated a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean on Friday by deploying the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America, a show of force that far exceeds any past counter-narcotics need and represents Washington’s most muscular move yet in the region.

The AH-64 Apache has been the U.S. Army’s go-to attack helicopter since entering service in 1986 (first flight in 1975). Across its A/D/E variants, the Apache has earned a stellar reputation and long combat record.

Boeing said on Tuesday it had received orders for nine CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters from the U. Army via two contract awards worth $461 million.

American aerospace giant Boeing got two $461 million contracts to upgrade an extra nine CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters.

The deployment comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a 10th strike against a suspected drug smuggling vessel.

When reporters asked Trump on Thursday whether he would request Congress issue a declaration of war against the cartels, he said that wasn’t the plan.

Watch helicopters perform jaw-dropping stunts and impressive formations during America’s Freedom Fest. This action-packed video brings the excitement right to your screen.

Adapting “loyal wingman” drones to helicopters is a fundamentally different challenge than adopting them to planes, as helicopters are far slower and operate at significantly lower altitudes.