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Unmanned Systems

Central Command Deploys One-Way Attack Drones In Middle East

By Cal Biesecker

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025

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Central Command Deploys One-Way Attack Drones In Middle East

U.S. Defense Department photo of LUCAS drones on a tarmac in Central Command's operating area.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday said it has deployed the U.S. military’s first one-way attack drone squadron, which consists of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones that feature autonomous technology. The Middle East-based squadron was established by CENTCOM’s relatively new Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS), which appears to have been stood up in early November and is focused on delivering low-cost drones to warfighters. CENTCOM said the LUCAS drones, which are manufactured by Arizona-based SpektreWorks, “have an extensive…

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