Iranian drone ‘shadows’ US aircraft carrier – putting F-18 Hornet pilots ‘lives at risk’

For the second time in just a week an Iranian drone flew ‘too close’ to a US Navy F-18 Hornet and followed the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier at night. The US Navy stated that these activities are putting their pilots lives at risk.

The Iranian Sadegh drone flew without any warning lights during the encounter Sunday night with the USS Nimitz, said Lt. Ian McConnaughey, a spokesman for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

The drone did not respond to repeated calls over the radio and came within 1,000 feet (300 meters) of U.S. fighters, he said.

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That “created a dangerous situation with the potential for collision and is not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws,” McConnaughey said in a statement. The drone was unarmed, the lieutenant said, though that model can carry missiles. – AP

Just this year, the Navy has reported 14 different occasions of “unsafe and/or unprofessional” actions by Iranian forces. Do you think the Iranians are purposely tempting the US to action against one of their drones? Let us know your thoughts.

Featured image of an F/A-18F Super Hornet attached to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, launching off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during night flight operations by U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kevin T. Murray Jr., via Wikimedia Commons