{"id":4126,"date":"2026-03-02T10:13:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T02:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/?p=4126"},"modified":"2026-03-02T10:13:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T02:13:33","slug":"inside-lucas-the-35000-us-kamikaze-drone-now-used-in-us-israel-iran-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/?p=4126","title":{"rendered":"Inside LUCAS: The $35,000 US kamikaze drone now used in US-Israel-Iran war"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p> <div> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{15}\" paraid=\"1375271848\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The United States has deployed a new class of low-cost attack drones for the first time in combat, marking a shift in how the US military approaches drone warfare. The platform, known as the\u00a0LUCAS drone, is being used as part of a broader US military campaign in the Middle East.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{20}\" paraid=\"96419423\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Here is an explainer on what the system is, why it matters, and how it is being used.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{25}\" paraid=\"854438416\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>What is the LUCAS attack drone?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{34}\" paraid=\"915882331\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The\u00a0Low\u2011cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS)\u00a0is a low-cost, one-way attack drone developed by the US\u00a0defense\u00a0startup\u00a0SpektreWorks.\u00a0<\/p> <ul> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{39}\" paraid=\"1707012678\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">It is designed as a\u00a0\u201ckamikaze\u201d or loitering munition, meaning the drone is intended to crash into a target and detonate.\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{54}\" paraid=\"540404190\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The platform is\u00a0V-shaped\u00a0and\u00a0relatively lightweight.\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{61}\" paraid=\"212736697\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">It is built for\u00a0mass production and rapid deployment, making it cheaper and more scalable than many traditional US precision weapons.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{68}\" paraid=\"923063256\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The drone was unveiled in\u00a0late 2025, and the latest deployment marks its\u00a0first operational use in combat.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{74}\" paraid=\"578315709\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Where is it being used?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{83}\" paraid=\"1932227055\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The drones are currently being used by\u00a0United States Central Command\u00a0as part of\u00a0Operation Epic Fury, also referred to as\u00a0Operation Roaring Lion.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{88}\" paraid=\"1491946545\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The system is being\u00a0operated\u00a0by\u00a0Task Force Scorpion Strike, a unit\u00a0established\u00a0to accelerate the fielding of inexpensive drone technology for frontline forces.\u00a0<\/p> <div class=\"embedcode\"> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"> <p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\" xml:lang=\"en\">CENTCOM&#8217;s Task Force Scorpion Strike &#8211; for the first time in history &#8211; is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury. These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran&#8217;s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VYdjiECKDT\">pic.twitter.com\/VYdjiECKDT<\/a><\/p> <p>\u2014 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/2027828397087334407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote> <\/div> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{93}\" paraid=\"1809293496\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">According to CENTCOM, this marks\u00a0the first time the US military has used one-way attack drones in combat in this way.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{98}\" paraid=\"493168980\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Why the US built the LUCAS drone\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{107}\" paraid=\"106965113\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The LUCAS platform is\u00a0reverse-engineered from the Iranian-designed\u00a0Shahed\u2011136, which has been widely used by Russia in the\u00a0Russia\u2011Ukraine War\u00a0and by Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{112}\" paraid=\"396445716\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">These drones have\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0a key advantage:\u00a0they are cheap and easy to produce in large numbers.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{117}\" paraid=\"412363942\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">By building its own version, the US military aims to:\u00a0<\/p> <ul> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{122}\" paraid=\"1382182983\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Counter adversaries using similar drones\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{137}\" paraid=\"910608589\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Deploy\u00a0large swarms of inexpensive weapons\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{144}\" paraid=\"1442709982\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Reduce reliance on expensive precision missiles\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{151}\" paraid=\"528600290\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">US officials say the system allows American forces to respond with\u00a0\u201clow-cost retribution\u201d\u00a0in drone-heavy battlefields.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{157}\" paraid=\"752921713\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Key specifications\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{166}\" paraid=\"819667153\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The LUCAS drone is derived from the\u00a0FLM\u2011136\u00a0target drone model developed by\u00a0SpektreWorks.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{171}\" paraid=\"548506308\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Important characteristics include:\u00a0<\/p> <ul> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{176}\" paraid=\"1235562364\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Range:\u00a0about\u00a0500 miles (800 km)\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{191}\" paraid=\"876723317\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Payload:\u00a0up to\u00a040 pounds of explosives\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{198}\" paraid=\"808316779\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Maximum\u00a0takeoff\u00a0weight:\u00a0roughly\u00a0180\u00a0pounds\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{205}\" paraid=\"1535705953\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Estimated cost:\u00a0about\u00a0$35,000 per drone\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{212}\" paraid=\"492860192\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The explosive payload is estimated to deliver\u00a0roughly twice\u00a0the yield of a Hellfire missile, according to\u00a0defense\u00a0analysts.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{218}\" paraid=\"892604909\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>How the drone is launched\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{227}\" paraid=\"338013392\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The LUCAS system is designed to be\u00a0flexible in deployment, allowing it to be launched from multiple platforms:\u00a0<\/p> <ul> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{232}\" paraid=\"2032470859\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Ground-based\u00a0catapults\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{247}\" paraid=\"734132048\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Rocket-assisted\u00a0takeoff\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{263d149e-d996-4e7b-82ed-6339d76e2633}{254}\" paraid=\"577851129\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Vehicle-mounted launchers\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{6}\" paraid=\"1558463325\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Naval platforms\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{13}\" paraid=\"786084427\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">In December, a LUCAS drone was successfully launched from the\u00a0USS Santa Barbara (LCS\u201132), an\u00a0Independence-class littoral combat ship, during an exercise in the Arabian Gulf.\u00a0<\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{19}\" paraid=\"260151787\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Why it could change drone warfare\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{28}\" paraid=\"947552544\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">The introduction of the LUCAS drone reflects a\u00a0broader shift in US military strategy:\u00a0<\/p> <ul> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{33}\" paraid=\"1948646156\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Moving from\u00a0small numbers of expensive weapons\u00a0to\u00a0large numbers of inexpensive drones\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{48}\" paraid=\"702911530\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Matching tactics used by adversaries such as Iran and Russia\u00a0<\/li> <li lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{55}\" paraid=\"1466767956\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">Enabling\u00a0swarm attacks and sustained operations at lower cost\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <p lang=\"EN-GB\" paraeid=\"{69e2bd4b-e836-4499-9de1-2411e9462b2c}{62}\" paraid=\"55262484\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\">At around\u00a0$35,000 per unit, the system is far cheaper than many US precision munitions, potentially allowing the Pentagon to\u00a0deploy hundreds or thousands of drones in a single campaign.<\/p> <\/div> <p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>US, Israel, Iran, Day 2 of Operation Epic Fury, LUCAS drone, US LUCAS attack drone, Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, Operation Epic Fury drones, US CENTCOM drones, Task Force Scorpion Strike, SpektreWorks LUCAS drone, Shahed-136 copy drone US, kamikaze drones US military, loitering munition US, US drone warfare Middle East, FLM-136 drone, low cost military drones US, US reverse engineered Shahed drone#LUCAS #kamikaze #drone #USIsraelIran #war1772417613<\/p> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The United States has deployed a new class of low-cost attack drones for the first time in combat, marking a shift in how the US military approaches drone warfare. The platform, known as the\u00a0LUCAS drone, is being used as part of a broader US military campaign in the Middle East.\u00a0 Here is an explainer on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4127,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[14266,3322,14278,968,1632,14282,14275,14276,14279,14269,14281,14267,14270,14274,14273,14272,2406,14271,14277,14268,14280,14076,1975],"class_list":["post-4126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-marketing","tag-day-2-of-operation-epic-fury","tag-drone","tag-flm-136-drone","tag-iran","tag-israel","tag-kamikaze","tag-kamikaze-drones-us-military","tag-loitering-munition-us","tag-low-cost-military-drones-us","tag-low-cost-unmanned-combat-attack-system","tag-lucas","tag-lucas-drone","tag-operation-epic-fury-drones","tag-shahed-136-copy-drone-us","tag-spektreworks-lucas-drone","tag-task-force-scorpion-strike","tag-us","tag-us-centcom-drones","tag-us-drone-warfare-middle-east","tag-us-lucas-attack-drone","tag-us-reverse-engineered-shahed-drone","tag-usisraeliran","tag-war"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4126"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4126\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}