U.S. sends USS Abraham Lincoln to Middle East amid rising tensions
The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has decided to expedite the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East sooner than initially planned. The giant, which carries, among other things, F-35C fighters, will urgently appear in the hot region as a show of support for Israel.
Since October 2023, Israel has been fighting Hezbollah and Hamas. In recent weeks, the situation in the Middle East has become even more tense. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that a "significant set of attacks" from Iran on Israel is expected. Israel's allies are systematically sending reinforcements to the Middle East. In the case of the USA, these included additional F-22 Raptor fighters and the USS Georgia submarine, which was equipped with cruise missiles. But this is not the end.
USS Abraham Lincoln sails to the Middle East
The USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed to the Middle East, is set to arrive at its destination without unnecessary delay. At the explicit order of the American command, the break planned for the entire strike group of this aircraft carrier (involving F-35C fighters and several smaller ships) in the Northern Marianas will be shortened.
"The Secretary of Defense has ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to expedite its arrival to the area of responsibility of the Central Command, thereby increasing the capabilities already provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group," read a statement issued by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
Aircraft carrier with F-35Cs on board
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, classified as a Nimitz-type unit. It was commissioned in 1989. It features a length of 333 metres and a width of 41 metres. It can reach speeds of over 56 km/h.
The USS Abraham Lincoln's armament consists of several RIM-7 Sea Sparrow water-to-air missile launchers and three 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx anti-missile systems.
The American giant also stands out with room for up to 90 aircraft, including the modern F-35C, which was designed to serve as a carrier aircraft for the U.S. Navy. Each such aircraft measures 16 metres in length, is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 1.6, and can carry up to 8,165 kilograms of additional armament in the form of missiles or bombs.
