U.S. Navy F/A-18 Fighter Jet Uses Precision Munition to Disable Marivex Tanker Bound for Iran.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet launched from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired a precision-guided munition into the engineering and steering compartments of the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman on June 8, 2026, after the vessel failed to comply with repeated instructions from U.S. forces and continued its transit toward an Iranian port. The strike immediately disabled the tanker without sinking it, preventing the vessel from reaching Iran and demonstrating the United States' ability to enforce its ongoing maritime blockade through precise carrier-based airpower.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Marivex was operating in international waters and was not carrying oil at the time of the engagement. The operation marked the seventh vessel disabled since the blockade against Iran was launched on April 13, 2026. CENTCOM also reported that 134 vessels have complied with redirection orders, while 42 humanitarian aid ships have been permitted to continue their voyages.

Related Topic: U.S. Military Aircraft Fires Hellfire Missile to Stop Tanker Bound for Iran’s Kharg Oil Terminal

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 prepares for an arrested landing aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on June 2, 2026. Aircraft from Abraham Lincoln's Carrier Air Wing recently conducted a precision strike against the tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman as part of U.S. blockade enforcement operations targeting maritime traffic bound for Iran. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)

The engagement represents one of the clearest examples to date of how the United States is combining naval power, persistent surveillance, and precision strike capabilities to enforce maritime restrictions against Iran. Rather than conducting a boarding operation or employing weapons intended to destroy the vessel, U.S. forces selected a strike profile focused on disabling the tanker's ability to navigate and continue its voyage. By targeting the engineering and steering spaces, the aircraft rendered the vessel incapable of reaching its destination while minimizing risks to the crew and surrounding commercial traffic.

The operation was carried out by an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the principal multirole combat aircraft of the U.S. Navy's carrier air wings. Developed by Boeing, the twin-engine fighter is designed to perform air-superiority, precision-strike, maritime-attack, close-air-support, reconnaissance, and suppression-of-enemy-air-defense missions. Powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines generating approximately 44,000 pounds of combined thrust, the aircraft can exceed Mach 1.6 and operate across a wide range of maritime and land-based combat environments.

A key element of the Super Hornet's effectiveness is its advanced AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which enables simultaneous tracking of multiple air and surface targets. Combined with modern electronic warfare systems, infrared targeting sensors, secure communications, and networked battlefield connectivity, the aircraft can detect, identify, and engage targets with high precision while operating in contested environments. These capabilities allow carrier-based aircraft to monitor vast maritime areas and rapidly transition from surveillance to strike operations when required.

The F/A-18E/F carries one of the most versatile weapon inventories in the U.S. military. Air-to-air armament includes AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range missiles and AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missiles. For strike missions, the aircraft can employ Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), laser-guided bombs, AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOW), AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, and selected long-range air-to-surface weapons. An internally mounted M61A2 20mm rotary cannon provides an additional close-range engagement capability. In the case of Marivex, the aircraft employed a precision munition intended to disable critical ship systems rather than destroy the vessel outright.

The incident also highlights the USS Abraham Lincoln's operational role in the Middle East. As a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier displacing more than 100,000 tons, the vessel functions as a mobile airbase capable of projecting combat power without reliance on regional land installations. The carrier can embark more than 60 aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters.

Operating in support of U.S. 5th Fleet missions, USS Abraham Lincoln provides CENTCOM with a rapidly deployable force capable of conducting maritime security operations, precision strikes, intelligence collection, and regional deterrence missions. Its embarked air wing can maintain continuous surveillance over key shipping routes while retaining the ability to engage targets across the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.

The carrier is typically accompanied by guided-missile destroyers equipped with the Aegis Combat System, creating a layered force capable of defending against aircraft, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, surface threats, and submarines. This combination of naval aviation, surface warfare assets, intelligence platforms, and command-and-control networks enables U.S. forces to monitor maritime activity and respond quickly to emerging situations across the region.

The Gulf of Oman remains one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors. The waterway connects the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of global seaborne energy exports transit each day. Maintaining visibility and control over vessel movements in this area has become increasingly important as tensions surrounding Iran continue to affect regional security and international shipping.

The disabling of Marivex illustrates how modern carrier strike groups can employ calibrated force to achieve specific operational objectives. Instead of seeking the destruction of a target, commanders can use precision-guided weapons to generate tailored effects against critical systems. Such capabilities provide policymakers with additional response options between diplomatic measures and large-scale military action.

For Iran and commercial shipping operators, the June 8, 2026, interdiction delivers a clear message about the U.S.'s willingness to enforce maritime restrictions. The operation demonstrates that CENTCOM possesses the surveillance assets, command structure, and precision strike capabilities necessary to detect, track, and stop vessels attempting to reach Iranian ports in violation of blockade measures. As enforcement operations continue, the presence of the U.S. Navy USS Abraham Lincoln and its embarked F/A-18E/F Super Hornets remains a central component of U.S. maritime power projection and deterrence across the Gulf region.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.