In the early hours, the Strait of Hormuz became the site of a dramatic missile confrontation. At 5:47 a.m., Iranian forces launched a Khalij Fars anti-ship ballistic missile from a hidden launcher near Bandar Abbas, targeting the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a 97,000-ton aircraft carrier stationed 40 nautical miles offshore. The missile, traveling over three times the speed of sound, was designed to strike with precision, following a steep ballistic trajectory to hit the carrier.
The USS Gettysburg, a nearby guided missile cruiser, detected the launch six seconds after ignition. Using its SPY-1 Aegis radar, it identified the missile as a tactical ballistic threat and fired two SM-3 Block 2A interceptors, successfully neutralizing the first two incoming missiles. Within seconds, additional launches followed—seven in total, including an IMOD medium-range missile. The Gettysburg engaged remaining threats with its limited interceptor stock, destroying most, while the USS Arleigh Burke tracked the final Khalij Fars missile, using SM-6 missiles to damage its guidance system, causing it to tumble into the water near the carrier without detonating.
Despite the intensity of the assault, the Eisenhower sustained minimal damage, and flight operations continued uninterrupted. Within minutes, FA-18 Super Hornets launched to locate and strike the Iranian launch sites. Guided by MQ-9 Reaper drones monitoring the area, the aircraft deployed glide bombs and JSOW munitions, destroying the launchers and access routes, effectively eliminating the immediate threat.
The entire engagement, lasting less than 40 minutes, demonstrated the U.S. Navy’s ability to counter multiple advanced missile threats simultaneously. Iran’s multi-million-dollar missile salvo inflicted almost no damage, while U.S. precision strikes neutralized the source at a fraction of the cost. The incident highlighted both the risks of modern naval warfare and the effectiveness of integrated defense systems, reinforcing the technological and strategic advantage of U.S. forces in the region.
