Iranian UAVs challenge USS Eisenhower's passage in Strait of Hormuz.

As reported by Iran Observer on November 28, 2023, Iran released footage showcasing the monitoring of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as it transited the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a specific warning to the United States, focusing on advising against the takeoff of any aircraft on board the carrier during its passage through the strategic strait.
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Iran released footage showcasing the close monitoring of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). (Picture source: Twitter/Iran Observer)

This marked the first occurrence in three years of Iranian UAVs closely observing the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group entering the Persian Gulf. The incident raises concerns as it suggests that Iran has successfully gathered detailed information about US naval assets present in the region.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, stated that Iranian UAVs engaged in what he described as unsafe and unprofessional actions near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during routine flight operations in international waters. The USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) was conducting routine flight operations in the Central Arabian Gulf when the Iranian UAV, identified visually as Iranian, approached within approximately 1,500 yards of the carrier, disregarding multiple hails and warnings from the US Navy.

This Iranian action is reported to have violated safety precautions outlined in a daily Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), directing both manned and unmanned aircraft to maintain a distance greater than 10 nautical miles from the aircraft carrier to ensure the safety of military and civilian aviation.

This incident occurred amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as attacks against US coalition forces in Iraq and Syria attributed to Iranian-backed proxy groups.

This drone encounter follows previous instances where US naval ships intercepted and neutralized missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. USS Carney (DDG-64) recently shot down a Houthi missile over the Red Sea, marking the second such incident involving the ship. Additionally, USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has intercepted Houthi drones in the Red Sea on multiple occasions, with incidents reported on November 22 and November 15, 2023.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1977, is capable of accommodating 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. (Picture source: US DoD)

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1977, has a rich operational history within the United States Navy. As the second carrier of its class, she has participated in various deployments, including engagements such as the Gulf War and support for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently serving as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 2, the carrier operates with the motto "Greater Each Day."

With a displacement of 101,600 long tons and a length of 1,092 feet, the Eisenhower is a nuclear-powered carrier equipped with two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors. These reactors, operating at 93.5% enriched uranium, enable the carrier to reach speeds of 30+ knots and maintain an operational range of 20–25 years without refueling.

The Eisenhower features advanced sensor and processing systems, including AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar and AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar. Electronic warfare capabilities are provided by the AN/SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite and the SLQ-25A Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures.

The carrier's offensive capabilities include two RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Missile launchers, two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, and multiple Phalanx CIWS 20 mm cannons for close-in defense.

Her air wing is capable of accommodating 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, allowing the USS Eisenhower to engage in a wide range of missions, from air superiority to reconnaissance and strategic strikes. The carrier's service record, combined with its technological capabilities, underscores its significance within the United States Navy's fleet.