What You Need to Know: Recent developments suggest that Iran may possess the capability to inflict serious damage on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

-Iranian state media reported the development of the Talaeiyeh, a long-range cruise missile with a range exceeding 600 miles and the ability to switch targets mid-flight.

-Additionally, the shorter-range Nasir missile can be launched from warships. Incidents like the attack on the Norwegian-owned tanker Strinda highlight the growing threat of Iranian-backed groups using anti-ship missiles in strategic waterways.

-While Iran's claims about its military capabilities are often exaggerated, experts caution that even if Iran cannot sink a U.S. carrier outright, it could still cause significant damage, emphasizing the need for vigilance and a strong response from the U.S.

Could Iran Sink a U.S. Aircraft Carrier? Assessing the Threat

Do Iran or their affiliate groups have the capability to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier? It is clearly, at least now, in the realm of possibility. 

In the final days of 2023, Iranian-state media outlets reported that its naval forces had developed a new cruise missile capable of reaching targets more than 600 miles away.

According to Tehran, the Talaeiyeh is a long-range “smart” missile that can switch targets and adjust course during flight.

The Nasir has short-range capabilities and can be launched from warships. News of these new missiles coincided with the attack on the Norwegian-owned tanker Strinda in mid-December.

And this, sadly, is just the start of ways Iran could truly sink a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. 

Iran Has More Than Just Missiles - Lots of Ways to Strike

While small drones and rockets do present threats to a warship, long-range cruise missiles could cause severe damage to a larger aircraft carrier. So, at least in theory, Iran could hit and sink a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in a war. 

Some analysts have grown concerned that Iran’s Noor anti-ship missile could specifically endanger a U.S. carrier. The Noor is a reverse-engineered variant of the Chinese-made C-802 anti-ship missile.

Allegedly, the Iranian weapon can deploy mm-wave active radar in the final stage of its flight to locate a target and direct the missile to it.

Additionally, the anti-ship missile is believed to be very difficult to jam. With a range of up to 136 miles, the Noor has a top speed of Mach-1.4 (times the speed of sound) during its terminal stage.

Tehran has also claimed that it has developed reconnaissance drones, helicopters and marine cruise missiles. According to Iranian Admiral Shahram Irani, "All of this equipment has been designed and produced by Iran's military industry." Despite these claims, analysts must take into consideration Tehran’s long history of over-exaggerating its military capabilities. The true specs and abilities of Iran’s naval weapons has not been determined.

Even if Iran can’t fully sink one of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers, it could inflict serious damage if the right weapon is launched at the right time. For this reason, the White House must respond forcefully to Tehran’s increasing bombardments in the Red Sea.

About the Author 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

Image Credit: Creative Commons.