The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, carried out live-fire exercises in the South China Sea amid rising concerns over China’s missile capabilities.
The drills involved Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems designed to defend against missiles, aircraft, and boats.
💥 Firing on all cylinders ⚓🇺🇸
USS Abraham Lincoln fires a close-in weapon system (CIWS) during live-fire exercises on the @USNavy ship’s flight deck while underway in #US7thFleet, Jan. 8. #warfighting #readiness
📍: South China Sea
📸: MC3 Shepard Fosdyke-Jackson pic.twitter.com/5LulfAdwoE— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) January 13, 2026
A spokesman for U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Matthew Comer told Stars and Stripes that the vessel had been engaged in “routine operations” in the region, which typically include flight operations, replenishments-at-sea, damage control training, and explosive ordnance disposal drills.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet with VFA-151 launches from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Pacific Ocean, reinforcing forward-deployed naval aviation and readiness across the Indo-Pacific.
📍 #PacificOcean
📸 MC Seaman Daniel Kimmelman#IndoPacific pic.twitter.com/0Pua55F3aU— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) January 12, 2026
It is escorted by guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance, USS Michael Murphy, and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.
According to the Navy, U.S. warships are deployed to “deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance peace through strength.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the report.
