A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier based in San Diego shot down an Iranian drone that aggressively approached the vessel while operating in the Middle East, military officials confirmed Tuesday.

The F-35A is the US Air Force’s variant of the Joint Strike Fighter—yet is broadly similar to the Navy’s F-35C, and could be substituted for it during training.

Even as the builder sea trials mark the final stage in the construction of the warship, it is a reminder that CVN-79 won't be available for service for nearly two years.

Unit insignia of U.S. Navy Air and Test Evaluation Squadron 9, based out of China Lake, California, was recently spotted on an F-35A Lightning II variant.

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released the draft version of the request for proposals (RFP) on Feb. 2 for the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS). Responses from industry due by Feb. 27 will inform the final solicitation, with a scheduled contract award following in the second quarter of next year.

Although “aircraft carriers” come in many sizes and shapes, the largest and most advanced supercarriers all fit a pattern—carved out by the US Navy for others to emulate.