The military has deployed ground-based air defense systems near the Mar-a-Lago club and the Donald J. Trump airport in Palm Beach. The equipment is visible to residents and travelers, and local media have been reporting on it since Oct. 28.
According to local media reports, including from stations WPTV and WPEC (CBS12), some of the equipment sits on a barge on the water next to Mar-a-Lago, and some is near President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach. Experts cited by the TV stations identified it as mobile Avenger systems armed with Stinger missiles. They described the systems as the last layer of protection against aircraft, drones and other airborne threats.
U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) confirmed that ground-based air defense assets and counter-drone systems were recently deployed in the Mar-a-Lago area. According to the Epoch Times, a military spokesperson said the deployment was made at the request of the Secret Service. Officials declined to provide operational details, citing security concerns.
It has not been disclosed exactly when the equipment arrived in Palm Beach. It also has not been confirmed whether the deployment is tied to a specific threat. The Pentagon referred questions on the matter to the White House press office. Photos of the systems at Mar-a-Lago date from Oct. 23, when the president was in Florida.
Media report that the president is expected to return to Palm Beach for the Halloween weekend. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notice about VIP movement points to a possible visit. During the president’s stays, NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, typically enforces temporary flight restrictions over West Palm Beach and Palm Beach. Pilots should regularly check FAA notices (NOTAMs).
The stepped-up security comes several months after an incident on Feb. 22, 2026. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy shot a man who entered the Mar-a-Lago grounds through the north gate. The president was not at the property at the time.
Source: Sun Sentinel
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Source: Słoneczne Radio
