"CENTCOM's Task Force Scorpion Strike-for the first time in history-is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury. These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran's Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution."
"The American drone is called the LUCAS and was developed by Arizona-based Spectreworks. Each one costs about $35,000, compared to price tags that can run into millions of dollars for advanced missiles. The LUCAS can also be configured for reconnaissance missions."
"We simply don't have the defense industrial base to do that, let alone the stockpiles of key weapons such as such as Patriot and THAAD and then strike weapons such as JASSMs."
The U.S. military has launched inexpensive, one-way attack drones called LUCAS in combat operations against Iran for the first time, marking a significant shift in military strategy. These drones, developed by Arizona-based Spectreworks and costing approximately $35,000 each, are modeled after Iran's Shahed drones that have been used against Israel, U.S. allies, and Ukraine. Task Force Scorpion Strike, a specialized squadron focused on one-way-attack drones and led by U.S. Special Operations Command-Central personnel, deployed these weapons during Operation Epic Fury. The initiative follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's order to accelerate acquisition and deployment of cheaper autonomous weapons. However, military experts express concerns about whether U.S. munitions stockpiles can sustain prolonged conflict with Iran.
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