And American nuclear aircraft carrierescorted by three warships, has entered in the Middle East at a time of maximum regional tension. While, according to , they would have left tens of thousands dead, Washington has decided to flex military muscle. The protagonist is the USS Abraham Lincolnone of the largest warships ever built.
He United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on social network X that the aircraft carrier is “currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability.”
A few days earlier, President Donald Trump justified sending ships “just in case,” after warning that the United States was “armed and ready” to protect Iranian protesters.
Behind that phrase there is more than rhetoric: a floating weapons system valued at about 33 billion dollars (about 27.4 billion euros)capable of projecting military power hundreds of kilometers without setting foot on land.
One of the largest warships in the world
The USS Abraham Lincoln belongs to the class Nimitzthe hard core of the US nuclear aircraft carrier fleet. They are ships of 333 meters in lengthwith a displacement close to 100,000 tonsdesigned to operate for decades without refueling nuclear fuel.
The United States currently has ten aircraft carriers of this typeeach conceived as a mobile air base. In the case of the Abraham Lincoln, it can carry up to 65 aircraft, in addition to its own defense systems and the support of its escort group.
Its maximum speed reaches 35 knots, about 65 kilometers per hourmore than enough to leave behind many cars on the road. Aboard about 5,600 people live and workbetween crew and air personnel: a small floating city.
Fighters, missiles and air defense
The main weapon of the aircraft carrier is not in its hull, but on its deck. USS Abraham Lincoln operates aircraft capable of attacking air and ground targetswhich allows it to intervene in conflicts without depending on allied bases.
Their squads include:
- He Lightning IIfifth-generation fighter with stealth capability.
- Los F/A-18 Super Hornetbackbone of US naval aviation.
These aircraft allow precision strikes, air superiority missions and long-distance surveillance operations.
But the aircraft carrier also protects itself. Ships of the class Nimitz They can be equipped with:
- Missiles Sea Sparrow from NATOdesigned for anti-aircraft defense.
- He system Phalanx CIWSa radar-guided automatic cannon that fires thousands of projectiles per minute against incoming missiles.
- He missile system RAMa fire-and-forget supersonic weapon developed by RTX.
Electronic warfare and submarine protection
He USS Abraham Lincoln It not only defends itself against aerial threats. According to specialized military databases, it can carry systems such as the AN/SLQ-25A Nixiean acoustic decoy that deceives underwater torpedoes by diverting them from the ship.
Furthermore, it is equipped with advanced radars that allow:
- Detect and track nearby threats.
- Manage air traffic on your deck.
- Guide missiles and coordinate the defense of the naval group.
Added to this are helicopters SH-60 Seahawk and up to nine air squadrons, making the aircraft carrier a comprehensive combat, surveillance and deterrence platform.
A political message rather than a military one
Although its destructive capacity is enormous, the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln has a clear objective: send a message. In a context of internal protests in Iran and growing regional instability, Washington turns to one of its most recognizable symbols of power.
A single aircraft carrier of the class Nimitz can do more damage than the entire army of many medium-sized countries, without needing to cross borders or declare a formal war. Therefore, beyond its technology, the Abraham Lincoln functions as a floating warning.
