Strait of Hormuz: Nightly US strikes strain carrier crews and wallets

For the crews aboard the USS George Washington, the sky over the Strait of Hormuz has become a crowded and unforgiving workspace. Since August, the aircraft carrier has remained in the region, and its pilots now execute defensive missions every single night. The airspace above the waterway is roughly 20 miles wide, a narrow corridor filled with aerial objects that leaves fighter jet pilots with a minimal window to react to projectiles launched from the Iranian coast.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey Heames, who commands the carrier strike group, said US forces are reliably intercepting threats to commercial shipping. He noted that if an anti-ship cruise missile or drone is launched against a vessel, aircraft are deployed to shoot it down in a very short amount of time. According to US Central Command, this protection has allowed Gulf partners to export more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since the summer. More than 3,000 commercial vessels have transited the strait without incident during that period.

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, stated in a video released on Friday that Iran has not been able to export any oil since the blockade was imposed. The operation has kept the waterway open for international trade while tightening the economic grip on Tehran.

The cost of this constant vigilance is mounting. US officials familiar with the missions reported that the high frequency of flight operations is putting a strain on aircraft, crew members, and the mechanics responsible for maintenance. Adm. Daryl Caudle, the chief of naval operations, said the Navy is addressing this by establishing a ship maintenance hub on Diego Garcia, a base on an island in the Indian Ocean.

Ensign Addie Schaefer, an officer in the carrier's maintenance department, explained that increased flight hours lead to more damage and wear, requiring frequent repairs. Caudle added that the service is planning more port calls after naval personnel aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln completed a record-breaking deployment of 286 days at sea.

Military leaders maintain that their forces can keep the blockade and protect the strait for as long as necessary. However, some officials worry that these resource-intensive operations may affect the US ability to respond to other potential crises in different regions.

The United States currently has 50,000 troops and 20 ships deployed in the Middle East. The presence is costing the country between $2 billion and $3 billion a month for munitions, fuel, supplies, and other operational expenses.