Dubai, February 4 - In a significant display of U.S. naval air power and defensive readiness, an F-35C Lightning II fighter jet launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln successfully shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea on February 3, 2026. According to U.S. Central Command, the incident occurred while the Nimitz-class supercarrier was transiting international waters approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Iran's southern coast. The advanced stealth fighter, renowned for its multirole capabilities and sensor fusion, intercepted the unmanned aerial vehicle after it aggressively approached the carrier strike group with unclear intent, demonstrating the platform's effectiveness in protecting high-value naval assets amid heightened regional tensions.
The Shahed-139 drone, a one-way attack system associated with Iranian forces, continued its flight path toward the USS Abraham Lincoln despite multiple de-escalatory measures employed by U.S. forces operating in the area. These measures, intended to warn and divert the approaching threat, proved ineffective, prompting the defensive engagement. The F-35C pilot executed the shootdown in self-defense to safeguard the aircraft carrier and its personnel, ensuring no harm came to American service members and no damage occurred to U.S. equipment. This action underscores the critical role of carrier-based aviation in maintaining freedom of navigation and deterring potential threats in strategic maritime domains.
The engagement highlights the USS Abraham Lincoln's formidable air wing, which includes the cutting-edge F-35C variant optimized for carrier operations with enhanced range, payload capacity, and low-observability features. Deployed as part of the carrier strike group's mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the Lincoln's F-35s provide persistent surveillance, rapid response, and precision strike options far from shore-based facilities. Such incidents reinforce the importance of integrated air and missile defense layered around modern supercarriers, where fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 serve as the outer defensive perimeter against evolving unmanned threats.
This event occurs against a backdrop of ongoing U.S. military posture in the Middle East, where naval forces uphold security in vital waterways like the Arabian Sea. The decisive response by the F-35 from the USS Abraham Lincoln illustrates the U.S. Navy's commitment to protecting its assets and personnel while operating in international waters, contributing to regional stability through credible deterrence and operational professionalism.