Washington. Amidst the increasing tension between America and Iran, the US Navy has sent its most powerful Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) to the Middle East. This warship was deployed in the South China Sea, but considering the situation, the Pentagon has decided to deploy its carrier strike group closer to Iran. Military experts say that this group alone has the firepower equivalent to a medium-sized army.
According to media reports, it is the flagship of USS Abraham Lincoln (CSG-3). It is not just a ship, but a mobile airbase and command center. Apart from the carrier, this group includes 3 to 4 state-of-the-art guided missile destroyers, 1 to 2 nuclear attack submarines, and supply and fuel support ships. If needed, this group can fight by staying at sea for months. USS Abraham Lincoln, weighing about one lakh tons, is nuclear-powered, which means it requires less refueling. About 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers and aircrew are deployed on this carrier alone, while this number reaches 7,000 to 8,000 in the entire strike group.
Deployed on this supercarrier (CVW-9) is its biggest strength. This includes about 65 to 70 fighter and support aircraft. These include F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, state-of-the-art stealth fighter F-35C Lightning-2, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeye and MH-60 Seahawk helicopter. These aircraft can fly day and night and do all three tasks: attack, surveillance and defense.
This group has hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can be fired from destroyers and submarines. According to an estimate, the entire group is capable of launching more than 500 to 1000 Tomahawk missiles simultaneously. Apart from this, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, smart bombs and advanced air defense systems make it impenetrable and cannot be penetrated. If there is a direct war with Iran, this group can cause huge damage to Iran’s airbases, missile bases, naval bases and strategic infrastructure. However, experts also warn that Iran has ballistic missiles, drones and proxy militias, which could make the conflict protracted and dangerous. For now, America’s message is clear – the deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln is not just for war, but to stop Iran and protect American and allied interests in the region.
