U.S. Central Command confirmed that its Scorpion Strike Task Force employed its LUCAS attack drones in combat for the first time. The announcement comes amid the actions carried out in recent hours by the U.S. Armed Forces, a raid dubbed Operation Epic Fury, conducted against various targets in Iranian territory.
In its statement, Central Command detailed that “…the initial hours of the operation included the launch of precision munitions from air, land, and sea. In addition, CENTCOM’s Scorpion Strike Task Force employed low-cost one-way attack drones for the first time in combat…”. The latter refers to the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), an unmanned aerial vehicle developed through reverse engineering work based on the well-known Iranian Shahed drones.
Beyond the textual confirmation, U.S. Central Command also released a brief sequence showing the impact of one of these LUCAS attack drones against an Iranian radar site. The capabilities offered by this system allow it to strike stationary and moving targets thanks to the various configurations adopted. One of its standout features is its low cost (between $30,000 and $35,000) and flexibility to be launched from different platforms.
It is worth recalling that in December of last year, the littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) launched a LUCAS attack drone from its flight deck while transiting the Persian Gulf. “…It was the first shipboard launch of the drone, operated by Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59…,” previously detailed the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.
Prior to its deployment, both the LUCAS drones and the ships from which they are operated underwent various tests. In the case of the USS Santa Barbara, a Weapons Integration Team “…verified and identified the necessary modifications and confirmed that the weapons support equipment fit within the littoral combat ship’s configuration before the system arrived. The equipment validation helped ensure the system could be safely launched within a limited operational timeline…”.
Scorpion Strike Task Force
The Scorpion Strike Task Force was formed following an explicit requirement from Secretary of Defense Hegseth. The head of the U.S. Department of Defense had ordered in August 2024 to accelerate the acquisition and deployment of low-cost drone technology, which led to the procurement and operational fielding of the LUCAS, as well as the creation of this special unit.
On December 3, 2024, Central Command announced the creation of Task Force Scorpion Strike, which would be assigned the first squadron of one-way attack drones deployed by the U.S. Armed Forces in the Middle East.
“…This new task force sets the foundation for leveraging innovation as a deterrent… rapidly equipping our skilled warfighters with cutting-edge drone capabilities demonstrates the innovation and strength of the U.S. military, deterring malicious actors…,” stated Admiral Brad Cooper, then-commander of CENTCOM.
Regarding the LUCAS drones deployed by CENTCOM, these unmanned systems “…have extended range and are designed to operate autonomously. They can be launched through different mechanisms, such as catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle-based systems…,” Central Command noted.
Although further details have not yet been disclosed, it is known that two versions of the LUCAS have been developed. One is similar to the Iranian Shahed drones, configured to strike stationary targets; the other variant is equipped with EO/IR systems, enabling it to engage moving targets and operate under the control of an operator. The recent strike against Iranian Armed Forces radar systems could reveal the existence of an anti-radiation variant, similar to the IAI Harpy developed decades ago by Israel.
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Cover image for illustrative purposes. Credits: U.S. Army – Spc. Kayla McGuire
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