A U.S. Air Force E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft, callsign REND01 and registration 22-9047 (hex code AE77A4), was active on the ground in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to aviation tracker Flightwatcher1 on X. The report emerged during the three-hour period ending at 1:46 PM UTC on January 23, 2026. The aircraft functions as a node-relay communications translator between long-distance defense systems, with its last activity logged on January 3. Flightwatcher1 specified the aircraft's role in facilitating communications for defense operations, associating the sighting with hashtags #PuertoRico, #SOUTHCOM, and #OpSouthernSpear. The post highlighted the E-11A's presence on the ground in San Juan as of the reporting window. No additional official statements from U.S. Air Force or Southcom confirmed the activity during this period.
