In the tense waters of the Strait of Hormuz, amid the escalating 2026 Iran War that began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, a dramatic confrontation unfolded that could have reshaped naval warfare.
Iran’s newly acquired Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, part of a multi-billion-dollar deal with Russia for up to 48 advanced aircraft, were deployed in a bold attempt to target the USS Abraham Lincoln, a cornerstone of American power projection in the Middle East.
According to reports from Iranian state media and leaked Russian documents, Tehran had begun receiving its first batch of Su-35s by early 2026, with production ramping up at Russia’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant. These fourth-generation++ fighters, equipped with supersonic Kh-31 anti-ship missiles capable of Mach 3 speeds, represented a significant upgrade for Iran’s aging air force. The plot was simple yet audacious: a squadron of Su-35s would launch a coordinated missile barrage to overwhelm the carrier’s defenses, potentially sinking the 100,000-ton Nimitz-class vessel and dealing a symbolic blow to U.S. dominance.
The attack commenced in the early dawn hours of March 1, 2026, shortly after Iran claimed retaliatory strikes following the ᴀssᴀssination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and widespread bombardment of its nuclear and military sites. Infrared footage purportedly showed the jets streaking low over the Persian Gulf, releasing a volley of missiles toward the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was operating with its carrier strike group, including guided-missile destroyers and cruisers.
Iranian officials boasted of “direct hits,” with state media releasing videos claiming explosions on the carrier’s deck, igniting fuel stores and causing secondary blasts. The Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the operation a success, warning that “the sea will become a graveyard for aggressors.”
But 29 minutes later— the time it took for the missiles to traverse the distance, face interception, and trigger a U.S. response—everything changed. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) swiftly debunked the claims, stating that no missiles struck the carrier. “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close,” CENTCOM announced on social media. Advanced defenses, including the Aegis Combat System on accompanying destroyers, SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors, and the carrier’s own Phalanx CIWS, neutralized the incoming threats mid-flight. Fact-checks revealed that much of the “footage” circulated by Iranian sources was recycled from video games like Arma 3 or simulated exercises, not real events.
The twist escalated rapidly: In retaliation, a U.S. submarine lurking in the Indian Ocean fired a torpedo that sank an Iranian warship, marking the first such sinking since World War II. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike, emphasizing America’s resolve: “We are fighting to win.” This counterstrike was part of a broader U.S. campaign that has destroyed over 60 Iranian vessels, including an entire class of Soleimani-class warships. The USS Abraham Lincoln continued operations unscathed, launching airstrikes from its deck packed with F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C stealth fighters.
This incident highlights the vulnerabilities in Iran’s strategy. While the Su-35s provide air superiority capabilities, their effectiveness against a layered U.S. carrier defense network—bolstered by stealth bombers, drones, and satellite intelligence—proved limited. Experts note that saturation attacks require overwhelming numbers, something Iran’s fledgling Su-35 fleet, still in partial delivery, couldn’t achieve. As the war intensifies, with U.S. forces executing over 900 strikes in the initial phases, the failed plot serves as a stark reminder of the technological and tactical gap in modern warfare.
What began as a daring Iranian gambit ended in a swift American reʙuттal, shifting the momentum and underscoring the precarious balance in the region. The full implications for U.S.-Iran relations remain unfolding, but one thing is clear: in 29 minutes, a potential catastrophe turned into a demonstration of defensive prowess.
