The US Navy positioned the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a full-load displacement of approximately 100,000 to 104,000 long tons, near Iran.
The vessel stretches over 1,000 feet in length and serves as a major component of the US Navy’s fleet.
US defense officials described the move as a clear signal of deterrence and regional stability, especially the protection of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes each day.
Carrier in Strategic Launch Box
Rather than entering the Persian Gulf, the USS Abraham Lincoln took up a tactical position known as a “Launch Box” in the Northern Arabian Sea. From this location, the carrier can easily launch air operations deep inside Iran without sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vulnerable to naval mines and attacks.
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Military sources say the carrier has been maintaining intensive “flight deck cycles,” i.e., aircraft are armed, fueled, and ready to take off at short notice.
The ship’s air wing comprises F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters, F/A-18E Super Hornets, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. It enhances the carrier’s ability to conduct surveillance, strike missions, and electronic attacks simultaneously across a wide area.
Drone Intercept Highlights Readiness
According to US officials, an Iranian Shahed-139 drone on February 3 approached the carrier as an aggressive maneuver to test its presence.
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Showing its rapid response capability and reinforcing its role as a forward-deployed deterrent, the USS Abraham Lincoln launched an F-35C fighter, intercepted, and shot down the drone over the Arabian Sea.
Defense analysts said that the interception showed how quickly the carrier’s air wing can detect, track, and neutralize threats.
A Floating Fortress at Sea
Being one of the most powerful surface warships ever built and as a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3.
Providing full functionality as a floating airbase for aircraft, the carrier can carry up to 90 aircraft.
Its two nuclear reactors allow it to operate for more than two decades without refueling, giving it unmatched endurance at sea.
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To safeguard itself from potential threats, the ship is equipped with layered defenses, including Sea Sparrow missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles, and Phalanx close-in weapon systems. This carrier’s defense mechanism is designed to destroy incoming threats at close range.
The carrier is escorted by several Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, including the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Spruance, and USS Michael Murphy. This move enhances the USS Abraham Lincoln’s military capacity, as its companions use the Aegis Combat System, which can track and engage hundreds of air and missile threats simultaneously.
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A Visible Reminder of US Military Power
“Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln train as a team to launch and recover aircraft safely and on time, every time,” US Central Command said while releasing footage of flight operations.
As tensions remain high, the USS Abraham Lincoln stands as a visible reminder of American military power and its ability to project force far from home waters.
