Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply, with reports suggesting that an American strike on Iran could occur within hours. In a significant military move, the US has redirected its USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group from the South China Sea toward the Middle East.
Several countries, including India, have advised their citizens to leave Iran immediately amid the growing crisis. The strike group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, comprises multiple destroyers, submarines, and support vessels.
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), one of the world’s largest and most powerful warships, was built in the 1980s at a cost of approximately $2.24 billion. Adjusted for today’s value, this amounts to around $6.8 billion, excluding decades of maintenance and upgrades. In 2020–21 alone, the carrier underwent upgrades costing roughly $160 million. Essentially a floating city and airbase, the carrier hosts thousands of naval personnel and a wide range of aircraft, including fighters and helicopters.
As a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln is heavily armed and capable of delivering massive damage independently. With a displacement exceeding 100,000 tons, it ranks among the largest carriers globally.
While the Abraham Lincoln is one of the most formidable carriers in service, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is currently considered the world’s most expensive. This Ford-class carrier cost $13.3 billion to build, with an additional $5 billion spent on research and development. Construction took approximately 12 years, making it the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world to date.
The redeployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln underscores the US Navy’s strategic readiness as tensions in the Gulf region continue to escalate.
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