Iran Claims Deployment of Qader Cruise Missile Against United States Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln

Key facts

• The Qader cruise missile is a shore-based anti-ship weapon developed by Iran to target naval vessels such as warships and tankers.
• It is an upgraded version of the Noor missile, which is based on a Chinese missile design.
• The missile has a reported operational range of between 120 and 300 kilometres.
• It carries a warhead containing approximately 200 kilograms of high explosives.
• The system utilizes a turbojet engine and employs a sea-skimming flight path at low altitudes to avoid radar detection.
• In its final phase, the missile uses active radar guidance to lock onto and strike moving targets.
• The United States (US) Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is protected by the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), Sea Sparrow missiles, and Aegis defence systems.
• Iran previously claimed that the carrier was targeted on 1 March 2026 using four ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).