CENTCOM confirms Pentagon successfully used one‑way drones for first time in Iran strike
WASHINGTON, DC: On Saturday, February 28, a US military strike against Iran under Operation Epic Fury marked the Pentagon’s first combat use of one-way drones, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The new unmanned aircraft system was deployed after just a few months of testing and is part of a broader effort to field low-cost attack technologies in the Middle East. CENTCOM also highlighted the rapid deployment of these drones as part of ongoing operations against Iranian threats.
These newly released images of American military Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) fixed-wing propeller-driven strike drone specimens, which are American analogues to the Iranian Shahed-131/Shahed-136 design family, notably appear to be equipped with a… pic.twitter.com/YkgViQxEDi
— Shahryar Pasandideh (@shahpas) December 3, 2025
LUCAS drone deployment in Operation Epic Fury
The drones used in the strike are known as the Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, and are one-way attack aircraft produced by Arizona-based SpektreWorks. These drones cost about $35,000 each, significantly cheaper than traditional military drones like the $30 million Reaper and its munitions.
According to CENTCOM, LUCAS drones were first deployed to the Middle East in December 2025 and had their initial notable test flight from a Navy ship that same month.
The American design was reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed drones, which have been used by Iran against Israel and by Russia in the Ukraine war. These drones are designed to operate autonomously.
While “autonomous” does not always mean they choose their own targets without human input, the drones can function without continuous human control once a target is designated. "The first hours of the operation included precision munitions launched from air, land, and sea," CENTCOM said in a statement.
CENTCOM’s task force Scorpion Strike and Operational context
The new drones are fielded under CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike, a unit formed after the Pentagon directed an accelerated acquisition and deployment of inexpensive drone technology.
Commander of CENTCOM, Adm. Brad Cooper, said in a December release, “This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent, Equipping our skilled warfighters faster with cutting-edge drone capabilities showcases US military innovation and strength, which deters bad actors.”
As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 28, 2026
The President ordered bold action. CENTCOM forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow. pic.twitter.com/B0k5gV4YnU
CENTCOM noted that one-way attack drones became prominent in the Ukraine war, where similar systems were used extensively and spurred heavy investment into affordable unmanned weapons. LUCAS was deployed as part of a coordinated joint operation between US and Israeli forces targeting elements of Iran’s military and political establishment.
“The president ordered bold action, and our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call,” said Cooper.
