ARABIAN SEA – The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) executed a significant show of naval force and interoperability today, sailing in formation through the Arabian Sea accompanied by two U.S. Coast Guard cutters and two military supply ships. The large-scale maneuver comes as the strike group continues its high-stakes deployment in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
At the center of the formation was the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), the flagship of the strike group. Flying overhead were advanced aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9), demonstrating the carrier’s ability to project air power simultaneously with surface operations. The joint sail highlights the integrated capabilities of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, a partnership often utilized in the region to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation.
Joining the nuclear-powered carrier were two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, which play a critical role in maritime interdiction and security operations in the Middle East. While carrier strike groups typically operate with guided-missile destroyers, the inclusion of Coast Guard vessels in such a high-profile formation underscores the diverse range of U.S. naval assets currently active in the waterways of the Middle East. Alongside them, two military supply ships—essential for sustaining long-duration deployments at sea—steamed in coordination with the combatant vessels.
The formation included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121), USS Spruance (DDG-111), and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112). These destroyers provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities, including anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare support to the carrier.
The operation takes place against a backdrop of increased instability in the region. The Abraham Lincoln CSG was redirected to the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific earlier this year to bolster the U.S. military presence in response to rising tensions with Iran. The strike group has been highly active since its arrival; just days prior, an F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter from the “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, embarked aboard the Lincoln, engaged and shot down an Iranian drone that had approached the carrier group with unclear intent.
Commanders in the region have emphasized that such presence operations are designed to deter aggression and reassure allies of the United States’ commitment to regional stability. The integration of Coast Guard cutters—likely Sentinel-class fast response cutters from Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA)—adds a layer of agility to the strike group’s heavy firepower, allowing for a broader spectrum of maritime security operations, from counter-smuggling to escort duties.
Today’s transit in the Arabian Sea signals a continued high tempo of operations for the sailors and aviators of the strike group. As Carrier Air Wing 9 continues to conduct flight operations overhead, the surface group remains poised to respond to contingencies in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
