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Topic: Air Warfare, and Naval Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Middle East Tags: Aircraft Carriers, Drones, F-35 Lightning II, Iran, Shahed-129 Drones, United States, US Navy, and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Did an Iranian Drone Just Try to Attack the USS Abraham Lincoln? February 3, 2026 By: Peter Suciu
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A US Navy F-35C shot down an Iranian kamikaze drone over the Arabian Sea on Tuesday—potentially foiling an intended strike on an American aircraft carrier.
On Tuesday morning, a United States Navy F-35C Lightning II shot down an Iranian drone that was reportedly on course for the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)—now operating in the Arabian Sea about 500 miles from the southern coast of Iran.
“CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel, ships, and aircraft in the Middle East,” US Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said in a statement to the media. “Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated. Iran’s unnecessary aggression near US forces, regional partners, and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.”
The Iranian drone, identified as a Shahed-129 loitering munition by Iran’s official Tasnim news agency, was destroyed before it could reach any US warship. The US Navy confirmed there was no damage to the carrier or any other vessels in Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3).
USS Abraham Lincoln, which began her deployment in November, had been operating in the South China Sea at the beginning of the year, but was dispatched to the Middle East as part of the US military buildup in the region amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The Trump administration had vowed to strike Iran if the regime continued its violent crackdown on anti-government protesters. However, even as thousands have been killed, President Donald Trump appeared to give the Islamic Republic an off-ramp, and US officials had been set to meet with their Iranian counterparts later this week in Turkey. Tehran has also backtracked, calling for the talks to be moved to Oman and limiting the scope of the discussions.
Tuesday’s incident is likely to derail, or at least stall, the talks. This marked the first time an Iranian drone asset had been destroyed by the US military this year.
The F-35C Fighter Jet’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2019
- Number Built: ~150+ (as of 2025; production ongoing)
- Length: 51.5 ft (15.7 m)
- Wingspan: 43 ft (13.1 m) with wings spread; 30 ft (9.1 m) folded
- Weight (MTOW): 70,000 lb (31,800 kg)
- Engine: One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-400 afterburning turbofan (approx. 43,000 lbf thrust with afterburner)
- Top Speed: Mach 1.6 (1,200+ mph, 1,930 km/h)
- Range: ~1,200 nautical miles (1,380 mi, 2,220 km) with internal fuel
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Loadout:
- Internal bays: Up to 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) of ordnance across two bays
- Hardpoints: 6 external pylons (when stealth not prioritized), for additional bombs, missiles, or fuel tanks
- Missiles: AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, future AIM-260 JATM
- Bombs: JDAM family, Small Diameter Bombs, GBU-12/31/32, nuclear-capable B61 (planned integration)
- Aircrew: 1
The F-35C was designed to operate from carriers and is considered the most rugged and structurally robust variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) family of fifth-generation stealth aircraft. It features a reinforced airframe and heavy-duty landing gear.
Five US Aircraft Carriers Can Operate the F-35C
The USS Abraham Lincoln is one of at least five Nimitz-class supercarriers that can operate the F-35C. USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), USS George Washington (CVN-73), and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) have embarked air wings that include F-35 squadrons.
Current plans call for USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) to begin operating the F-35C in 2026 and 2028, respectively. USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) will also be able to operate with the carrier-based Lightning II when she returns to service following her mid-life refueling.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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Источник: nationalinterest.org