Iranian Drone Interferes With USS Nimitz Flight Operations

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While operating in international airspace in the central Persian Gulf, an F/A-18E Super Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 147, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, had an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with an Iranian QOM-1 unmanned aerial vehicle Tuesday, U.S. Central Command officials said.

Despite repeated radio calls to stay clear of active fixed-wing flight operations in vicinity of the USS Nimitz, the QOM-1 executed unsafe and unprofessional altitude changes in the close vicinity of an F/A-18E that was in a holding pattern and preparing to land on the aircraft carrier, officials said.

The F/A-18E maneuvered to avoid collision with the QOM-1 resulting in a lateral separation between the two aircraft of about 200 feet and a vertical separation of about 100 feet.

The dangerous maneuver by the QOM-1 in the known vicinity of fixed-wing flight operations and at coincident altitude with operating aircraft created a collision hazard and is not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws, Centcom officials said.

This is the 13th unsafe or unprofessional interaction between U.S. and Iranian maritime forces in 2017, the officials noted.

DoD News

DoD News publishes news from the US Defense Department.

One thought on “Iranian Drone Interferes With USS Nimitz Flight Operations

  • August 8, 2017 at 11:01 pm
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    My daughter is on the USS Nimitz & while it’s response to such provocations is always measured & calculated,they will respond appropriately,enthusiastically & decisively if & when it’s deemed prudent to do so ! Sinking the majority of the Iranian Navy & destroying scores of their Air Force’s jet fighters could certainly provide more than adequate on the job training for our impending showdown with North Korea !! It would also provide the excuse that Donald Trump’s advisors & benefactors have been looking for to bomb the Iranian’s nuclear & missile facilities !!! While peace with the Iranian’s is always preferable,their complete annihilation at this point becomes more & more likely & inevitable everyday !!!! It’s starting to look like a good time to put on a second shift at the Tomahawk Missile factory & buy more stock in defense contractors !!!!! PROUD NAVY DAD !!!!!!

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