This is not being widely reported, but that’s why you have us! This actually occurred yesterday and I bet you didn’t hear anything about it. On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy F-35C from the Abraham Lincoln downed a Shahed-139 drone about 500 miles off Iran’s coast after it ignored de-escalation attempts in international waters. Hours earlier, Iranian gunboats tried to board the U.S.-flagged tanker M/T Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz, but it evaded them with help from the USS McFaul and Air Force support. These self-defense actions, directed by President Trump, occurred as the U.S. and Iran gear up for Friday’s talks in Istanbul on Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and proxies, amid tensions from deployments and past strikes. Take a look: BREAKING: The U.S. military shot down an unmanned Iranian drone after it “aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent,” a U.S. Central Command spokesman told FOX News. “USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500… pic.twitter.com/JIETOBjz1D — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 3, 2026 Here is Karoline Leavitt explaining exactly what happened once Iran launched the Kamikaze Drone-Missile at the Abraham Lincoln: .@PressSec: “CENTCOM did make the decision to shoot down that Iranian drone. It was unmanned, it was acting aggressively towards our USS Lincoln…As for @POTUS, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first—but in order for diplomacy to work, of course, it takes two to… pic.twitter.com/wBwyl4MfFT — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 3, 2026 She later confirmed CENTCOM made the decision at the direction of President Trump. In other words, President Trump is in full control: BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt has confirmed a U.S. F-35 SHOT DOWN an Iranian drone which was “aggressively” approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln@PressSec: “CENTCOM made the decision to shoot down the drone… at the direction of President Trump.” “The president ALWAYS has a… pic.twitter.com/pQfiylG9sm — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 3, 2026 Meanwhile, it appears that the Deep State is desperately trying to lure President Trump into kicking off World War III but our President is wisely and calmly not taking the bait. It sure is a good thing we have someone with Donald Trump’s temperament running things right now! The Israelis want the US to strike Iran, but President Trump “is just not there” and “really does not want to do it,” according to US officials. Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/mGOLviEkKU — AF Post (@AFpost) February 3, 2026 Meanwhile, this all comes directly after two Iranian gunboats harassed a US oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz: BREAKING: Two Iranian gunboats menace US-flagged oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz, which was escorted to safety by US guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul, US Central Command says pic.twitter.com/tDqIkKjnyZ — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 3, 2026 Now let’s go back to the Shahed-139, the Kamikaze Drone-Missile. How powerful is it? What damage would it have done if it was not shot down? Here’s a full report: Details on the Shahed-139 Drone The Shahed-139 is an Iranian unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Shahed Aviation Industries, a subsidiary of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is part of the broader Shahed family of drones, which includes both reusable reconnaissance/strike platforms and one-way “kamikaze” loitering munitions. The Shahed-139 is described as an advanced variant of the Shahed-129, incorporating improvements like enhanced satellite communications, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for all-weather imaging, and possibly extended range or payload capabilities. It is designed for medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) missions, similar in role to the U.S. MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper. Specific details on the Shahed-139 are limited in open sources, as Iran often classifies or exaggerates its military tech. However, based on its relation to the Shahed-129 (and cross-referenced with similar models like the Shahed-149 “Gaza”), here are the key specifications and capabilities. Where exact Shahed-139 data is unavailable, I’ve noted approximations from the Shahed-129, with upgrades inferred from available reports (e.g., better avionics or endurance). Size and Physical Dimensions Length: Approximately 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches). Wingspan: Approximately 15-16 meters (49-52 feet 6 inches). Height: Approximately 3.1 meters (10 feet 2 inches). Overall Design: It features a pusher-propeller configuration (engine at the rear), high-mounted straight wings, a V-tail, and a narrow cylindrical fuselage made from composite materials with aluminum reinforcements. The landing gear is retractable for aerodynamic efficiency. It’s larger than smaller kamikaze drones like the Shahed-136 (which is only 3.5m long with a 2.5m wingspan) but smaller than heavy bombers or manned aircraft. Weights Empty Weight: Around 400 kg (880 lbs). Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): Estimated 800-1,000 kg (1,760-2,200 lbs), including fuel and payload. Fuel Capacity: Not publicly specified, but supports long-endurance flights, likely 200-300 kg of fuel. Performance and Capabilities Engine: Powered by a single Rotax 914 four-cylinder piston engine (or Iranian copy), producing about 75 kW (100 horsepower), driving a three-bladed propeller. Speed: Cruise speed of 150-185 km/h (93-115 mph); maximum speed around 200-250 km/h (124-155 mph). It’s not supersonic or high-speed like jet drones. Range: Combat radius of 1,700-2,000 km (1,100-1,240 miles); ferry range (one-way without payload) up to 3,000-3,400 km (1,860-2,100 miles) with satellite-linked variants. Endurance: Up to 24 hours, allowing persistent surveillance or loitering over targets. Altitude (Service Ceiling): 7,300 meters (24,000 feet); operational altitude typically 3,000-5,000 meters for reconnaissance. Launch and Recovery: Launched from runways or mobile platforms; recovered via landing. It can operate from dispersed bases in Iran, such as Konarak or Bandar-Abbas. Sensors and Avionics: Equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras (e.g., Oghab-6 gimbal for day/night targeting), laser rangefinder, real-time video datalink, and optional SAR for imaging through clouds or at night. Advanced variants like the Shahed-139 include satellite communications for beyond-line-of-sight control, extending effective range beyond 200-400 km (limited by line-of-sight datalinks in basic models). Guidance and Autonomy: GPS/INS navigation with autopilot for waypoint flying; can be remotely piloted or semi-autonomous. Resistant to some jamming via redundant systems, but vulnerable to advanced electronic warfare. Production and Variants: In service since around 2013 (for Shahed-129 base model); Iran claims production rates of 3+ per year, with 40-50 built total. Variants include naval (Simorgh) for maritime surveillance and a 2023 model with external radar pods. The Shahed-139 specifically enhances radar and comms, making it suitable for over-water operations like the one described. Lethality The Shahed-139 is moderately lethal as a multi-role UCAV, primarily for precision strikes rather than mass destruction. It’s not a “kamikaze” drone like the Shahed-136 (which carries a fixed 50 kg warhead and self-destructs on impact) but a reusable platform that deploys munitions from standoff distances. Armament/Payload: Up to 400 kg total, typically 4 Sadid-345 precision-guided glide bombs (each ~25-30 kg, with 5-10 kg high-explosive warheads) or Sadid-1 anti-tank missiles (similar to Spike-ER, with tandem HEAT warheads for armor penetration). It can carry up to 8 munitions in theory, but usually 4 on twin hardpoints. Munitions are exposed (not in canisters), which can affect reliability. Strike Capabilities: Effective against ground targets like vehicles, buildings, or personnel clusters. Range for munitions: 8-10 km. First combat use in 2016 during the Syrian Civil War, where it conducted hundreds of sorties against ISIS and rebels. Accuracy is good with laser guidance but can fail (e.g., duds in 2017 strikes). Overall Threat Level: Lethal in asymmetric warfare; can evade basic air defenses due to low radar signature (composite build) and altitude. However, it’s vulnerable to advanced fighters like the F-35C (which uses stealth and sensors to detect it easily). In conflicts, it’s been shot down multiple times (e.g., by U.S. F-15s in Syria, Pakistani jets, or now F-35C). Iran has exported or shared tech with Russia (used in Ukraine) and proxies like the Houthis. Non-Lethal Roles: Primarily for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), border patrol, or disaster relief (e.g., 2019 Iran floods). Potential Damage if It Hit the USS Abraham Lincoln Directly The question assumes a direct impact, as if the drone were used in a kamikaze-style attack (though it’s not designed for that—it’s meant to return after missions). In reality, the Shahed-139 would likely deploy its munitions from afar or conduct surveillance, but if it collided or was intentionally crashed into the carrier: Impact Scenario: At cruise speed (150-200 km/h or 42-55 m/s) and mass (800-1,000 kg), the kinetic energy alone is roughly 1-1.5 million joules—equivalent to the explosive force of 0.25-0.35 kg of TNT. Adding carried explosives (e.g., 4 x 10 kg warheads = 40 kg HE, roughly 50-60 kg TNT equivalent), the total blast could mimic a 200-500 lb bomb. Damage Assessment: To the Ship Structure: Minimal risk of sinking or catastrophic hull breach. The USS Abraham Lincoln is a 100,000-ton Nimitz-class carrier with a heavily armored flight deck (2-4.5 inches of steel/kevlar composite) designed to withstand 1,000+ lb bomb hits or missile strikes. A drone impact might dent or penetrate the deck locally (creating a 1-2 meter crater), damage non-structural areas like antennas or catapults, or cause shrapnel spread over 50-100 meters. Secondary Effects: High potential for fires or explosions if it hits fuel stores, parked aircraft (F-35s, F/A-18s), or munitions on deck. This could lead to chain reactions, injuring/killing crew (lethal radius ~20-50 meters from blast) and temporarily halting flight operations. Historical parallels: WWII kamikaze attacks (500-1,000 kg explosives) damaged U.S. carriers but rarely sank them due to robust damage control (firefighting teams, compartmentalization). Operational Impact: Could impair radar/comms (if hits the island superstructure) or elevators, reducing the carrier’s ability to launch/recover aircraft for hours to days. In a worst-case hit on critical systems, it might force a retreat for repairs, but the ship has redundancies. Mitigations: Carriers have layered defenses (Aegis radars, CIWS guns, missiles, fighter patrols) making direct hits unlikely. The drone’s slow speed and large size make it an easy target for interception, as in this incident. Comparison: Less damaging than anti-ship missiles (e.g., Iranian Ghadir with 150-200 kg warheads) but more than small quadcopters. If unarmed (pure surveillance), damage would be like a light aircraft crash—superficial but disruptive. In summary, while lethal against softer targets, the Shahed-139 poses a harassment-level threat to a fortified warship like the Abraham Lincoln, potentially causing localized damage and casualties but not existential harm. And let’s end with a look inside the USS Abraham Lincoln…. What an incredible ship! Your thoughts?