Adm. Brad Cooper said CENTCOM is analyzing lessons from using SpektreWorks' LUCAS drones in U.S. strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28.
Task Force Scorpion Strike launched the delta-wing FLM-136 LUCAS as the operation opened, marking the first U.S. combat use of one-way attack drones in a conflict.
LUCAS is a reverse-engineered version of Iran's HESA Shahed 136, giving the U.S. a low-cost attack system modeled on a drone widely associated with Iranian design.
The review signals CENTCOM is assessing how that first combat deployment performed and what it means for future strike operations.
With the U.S. now mass-producing low-cost drones, how will it defend against the same tactics from adversaries?
Does fighting a 'cheaper' war with disposable drones make future conflicts more likely and widespread?
As warfare shifts to cheap, disposable drones, what happens to the traditional multi-billion dollar defense industry model?