Iran Moves Mock Aircraft Carrier to Strait Ahead of Drill

Carrier resembles US carriers so often in the area

Ahead of a scheduled live-fire drill, Iran has  deployed a model aircraft carrier into the Strait of Hormuz, presumably setting the stage for firing on and sinking the “carrier” during the exercise.

US officials dismissed the issue, though media outlets played up the idea that the 650-foot long fake carrier, complete with its 16 fake fighter jets, was in some way something to do with the US. Iran has destroyed such fake carriers in the past, likely for propaganda value.

The US commonly has at least one carrier in the area off the shore of Iran, and Iran may want its ships to be prepared to target such a ship if a war breaks out. US Navy officials expressed confidence in their ability to protect their own carriers.

US aircraft carriers have carrier strike groups that escort them to prevent leaving them as sitting ducks for attacks. There is no reason to think the carriers would be targeted, either, unless the US first started a war.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.