In Reply to: Iran leans on Shahed drones to penetrate U.S. defenses posted by mh on March 03, 2026 at 11:54:02
The Shaheed drone is such a good strategy that the US has copied it. Expect Taiwan to make huge purchases.
From Google AI
As of March 2026, the U.S. military has deployed "LUCAS" (Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System) drones, which are American-made, reverse-engineered clones of Iran's Shahed-136 "suicide" drones. Developed by Arizona-based Spektreworks, these autonomous, low-cost ($35,000) one-way attack drones are designed to overwhelm enemy defenses, a tactic mirroring Iran's own strategies, with first combat use reported during Operation Epic Fury.
Key Details on U.S. Shahed-Style Drones (LUCAS):
Operational Deployment: CENTCOM's Task Force Scorpion Strike deployed these drones for the first time in combat against Iranian targets in early 2026.
Design & Capability: They closely resemble the Shahed-136, featuring a delta-wing shape and are capable of long-range, autonomous, one-way attacks.
Advanced Features: Unlike the basic Iranian version, the American LUCAS drones may utilize satellite terminals for enhanced control and improved guidance.
Strategic Purpose: The U.S. is using these $35,000 drones to "flip the script" on Iran, providing a low-cost, high-volume countermeasure to destroy enemy, resources without using multimillion-dollar missiles
The deployment marks a significant shift in U.S. tactical strategy in the Middle East, utilizing "copycat" technology to combat Iranian-backed forces