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3w ago

CENTCOM Fields Low-Cost LUCAS Drone Squadron Under New Task Force in Middle East

The move signals a U.S. shift toward attritable, mass-produced loitering munitions to counter Shahed-style threats.

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The U.S. unveils LUCAS, a low-cost drone reverse-engineered from an Iranian Shahed-136, marking a major shift in America’s approach to drone warfare.
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Overview

  • CENTCOM on Dec. 3 announced Task Force Scorpion Strike and said a LUCAS one-way-attack drone squadron is now operating at a regional site.
  • The drones offer extensive range and can launch via catapult, rocket-assisted takeoff, or vehicle-mounted systems, according to CENTCOM.
  • Each platform costs about $35,000 and is designed for single-use, enabling mass employment without risking high-end aircraft, recent reports say.
  • Developers drew on a captured Iranian Shahed-136 for the design, according to a U.S. defense official cited by CNN, reflecting a reverse-engineering approach.
  • Imagery dated Nov. 23 shows LUCAS on a CENTCOM tarmac in the Middle East, indicating the unit was in place before the public rollout as TFSS pushes rapid fielding for deterrence.