Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Army)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on December 3 that it had formed a new task force for the U.S. military’s first one-way-attack drone squadron based in its area of responsibility in the Middle East.
The formation of Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS) came four months after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed acceleration of the acquisition and fielding of affordable drone technology.
The command said in a statement that the TFSS is designed to “quickly deliver low cost and effective drone capabilities into the hands of warfighters,” revealing that the force has already formed a squadron of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS).
The LUCAS, first showcased to Hegseth by the Arizona-based defense contractor SpektreWorks in July, is an almost exact copy of Iran’s Shahed-136.
The drones have “an extensive range and are designed to operate autonomously,” CENTCOM said, adding that they “can be launched with different mechanisms to include catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle systems.”
“This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “Equipping our skilled warfighters faster with cutting-edge drone capabilities showcases U.S. military innovation and strength, which deters bad actors.”
When the LUCAS was first showcased it was described as a “reliable and cost-effective Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed to perform in austere conditions with minimal logistical requirements.”
Drone classified by the U.S. military as Group 3 UAS can weigh up to 600 kilograms and operate at altitudes up to 5,500 meters.
Design wise, the LUCAS closely resembles Iran’s Shahed-136 suicide drone with a triangular wingspan of approximately 2.5 to 3 meters and a piston engine. The drone seems to be built on or derived from SpektreWorks’s FLM 136 target drone, often mislabeled as FLM 131.
The FLM 136 has an endurance of up to six hours, a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour and can carry a payload weighing 18 kg.
In several photos shared by CENTCOM, LUCAS drones operated by the TFSS appeared to be equipped with different types of electro-optical systems, in addition to what appears to be a communication antenna resembling a Starlink terminal.
Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Army)
Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Army)
Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Army)
A U.S. official told The War Zone that the TFSS consists of about two dozen troops that will oversee the establishment and operations of drones.
Meanwhile, Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, revealed to the outlet that a single LUCAS costs just $35,000, describing it as a “low-cost, scalable system that provides cutting-edge capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional long-range U.S. systems.”
The TFSS was clearly formed to directly challenge Iran, which over the past decade used its cost-effective drones, including the Shahed-136, to expand its influence all over the Middle East. The U.S. military is now copying that exact tactic, and it can be assumed that the new force could get involved in covert operations.
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low cost in us = 35000 dollars
low cost in russia = 10000 dollars fpv fiber optic
lmao!
americans are sore loosers!
americans? or chews? cause chews are rarely citizens of a single country.
the ministry also said that during the same period russian air defenses shot down 251 fixed-wing drones launched by kiev forces and the black sea fleet of the russian navy destroyed two ukrainian drone boats in the northwestern part of the black sea……………………………… https://psee.io/8ela5d
as is being pointed out in various channels, the shahed is based on a dornier dar drone developed in the 1980s by germany and usa. what goes around comes around….