IRIA News

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The United States has launched a new task force dedicated to one-way attack drones in the Middle East, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach to countering Iran and accelerating the use of low-cost unmanned systems across the military.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS) is now equipped and operational, with a full squadron of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System drones, known as LUCAS drones.

The announcement comes four months after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the rapid integration of affordable drone technology across all services. The task force represents the most significant move yet toward establishing what the Pentagon has described as “drone dominance” in future conflicts.

Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS)

CENTCOM stated that TFSS is designed to rapidly acquire and deploy low-cost, one-way attack drones, enabling them to reach the hands of deployed units. Special Operations Command Central is leading the effort, and the unit is closely linked with a broader technology initiative launched by CENTCOM in September to speed the delivery of new autonomous systems to frontline personnel.

“This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent,” Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. “Equipping our warfighters faster with cutting-edge drone capabilities showcases U.S. military innovation and strength, which deters bad actors.”

The unit’s initial arsenal consists of LUCAS drones, lightweight, low-cost, one-way attack platforms that U.S. defense officials say can be launched rapidly and in large numbers. They can be fired from trucks, vehicle-mounted systems, catapults or with rocket-assisted boosters, giving them flexibility in different operating environments.

Reverse-Engineered Technology and Design

The LUCAS drones were designed by U.S.-based SpektreWorks and draw heavily on Iran’s Shahed-136 attack drones. U.S. engineers reverse-engineered the system after a Shahed UAV was captured intact several years ago.

A defense official recently told the media that the captured Iranian drone became the template for creating a simpler and cheaper American alternative.

The drones have a wingspan of roughly eight feet and can be used autonomously or in coordinated swarms. Their cost, about $35,000 per unit, makes them significantly cheaper than most U.S. precision-guided munitions and allows for high-volume production and deployment.

CENTCOM says the drones feature an extensive range and can carry explosive payloads sufficient to damage high-value targets. The ability to launch them with multiple methods also reduces the need for fixed infrastructure, allowing units to move and deploy quickly.

A Shift in Strategy against Iran

The deployment of the LUCAS drones reflects what officials describe as a strategic shift in Washington’s posture in the region. Instead of relying solely on high-cost missile defense systems or crewed aircraft, the U.S. is increasingly turning to swarms of cheap drones to counter Iran’s expanding network of UAVs and missile capabilities.

CENTCOM officials say Iranian forces have used Shahed-series drones to support operations across the Middle East, including in the Gulf, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The new U.S. task force is intended to provide a scalable countermeasure that can be produced and fielded quickly. A CENTCOM spokesperson referred reporters to the official press release, declining further comment.

Today @CENTCOM announced the first one-way attack drone squadron based outside of the U.S. A U.S. official tells me two dozen personnel from Task Force Scorpion Strike in an undisclosed country can employ one-way drones that have been reversed engineered from Iran's Shahed… pic.twitter.com/3XryiPdlbT

— Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) December 3, 2025

Integration With the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force

TFSS works closely with the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force (REJTF), established earlier this year and led by CENTCOM’s chief technology officer. REJTF’s mission is to fast-track new technologies in three key areas: capability development, software integration, and what CENTCOM refers to as “tech diplomacy,” aimed at coordinating innovation across different military branches.

The new drone squadron falls under the capability arm of this effort. Officials say the goal is to identify technologies that can be deployed immediately and provide measurable advantages on the battlefield.

Billion-Dollar National Drone Strategy

The announcement comes one day after Secretary Hegseth unveiled the Defense Department’s “Drone Dominance” plan, a multi-year initiative that aims to purchase hundreds of thousands of drones and transform how the U.S. military conducts operations.

The program will unfold in four phases beginning in early 2026. The government will allocate $1 billion to acquire approximately 340,000 small unmanned aerial systems capable of one-way attack missions.

The first phase runs from February to July 2026, during which 12 vendors will collectively produce 30,000 drones at $5,000 each. Later phases will reduce the number of vendors to five while increasing production targets up to 150,000 drones and lowering costs to $2,300 per unit.

Hegseth said the effort is aimed at equipping units for near-term conflict scenarios. “We need to outfit our combat units with unmanned systems at scale. We cannot wait,” he said. “At the Department of War, we are adopting new technologies with a ‘fight tonight’ philosophy, so that our warfighters have the cutting-edge tools they need to prevail.”

Executive Order on Drone Expansion

President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” focused on expanding both commercial and military drone production. The order seeks to reduce reliance on foreign-made drones, encourage domestic manufacturing, and allow the military to field inexpensive systems across the globe.

Following the order, Hegseth issued a memorandum emphasizing the need to remove what he called “restrictive policies” in procurement, testing, and training. He said the Pentagon must overcome bureaucratic resistance to emerging technologies, highlight private investment opportunities, and push forward with rapid development of unmanned systems.

“Lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions,” Hegseth said. “Drone technology is advancing so rapidly, our major risk is risk-avoidance.”

CENTCOM officials say Task Force Scorpion Strike will continue expanding its capabilities in the coming months. Additional LUCAS drones are expected to be deployed as production increases under the Drone Dominance program.

Officials also say more autonomous systems, including surveillance drones and underwater unmanned vehicles, may be integrated into the task force structure.

For now, the debut of the LUCAS drone squadron signals the beginning of a new era in U.S. operations in the Middle East, one in which large-scale, low-cost drone deployments are expected to play a central role in deterrence and crisis response.