DefenseUS confirms use of kamikaze drones in Iran inspired by local Shahed model
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed the first combat use of a new low-cost one-way attack drone based on Iran’s Shahed-136 design during joint strikes on Iranian targets.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said its Task Force Scorpion Strike employed the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) for the first time in combat as part of Operation Epic Fury. The operation involved coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian military infrastructure.
“These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran’s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution,” CENTCOM said, directly referencing the widespread use of Shahed-136 drones by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The LUCAS drone was developed by Arizona-based SpektreWorks and is described as a reverse-engineered derivative of the Iranian Shahed-136. The original Shahed design has been used extensively by Russia to conduct long-range strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, often launched in large numbers to saturate air defenses.
https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2027828397087334407
The U.S. version is intended as an affordable, scalable strike platform. Derived from the FLM-136 target drone originally built to simulate the Shahed for counter-drone training, LUCAS reportedly offers a range of around 500 miles and can carry a payload of approximately 40 pounds. Its relatively low unit cost allows it to be fielded in greater numbers compared with more advanced precision-guided munitions.
Task Force Scorpion Strike was established in December 2024 as CENTCOM’s first dedicated one-way attack drone unit, with the aim of rapidly deploying autonomous systems to frontline forces. The introduction of LUCAS in combat marks a shift toward broader use of loitering munitions in U.S. operations.
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