‘One-way attack drone’ used by US for first time in Iran strikes: What LUCAS is and how it works

(Photo credit: Central Command)

In a significant escalation of its drone warfare capabilities, the United States turned Iran’s own drone strategy against it, deploying its new low-cost, one-way attack drone, the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), for the first time during coordinated strikes with Israel under Operation Epic Fury.The coordinated strikes on Iran orchestrated by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday targeted key Iranian military assets and resulted in the killing of Tehran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The operation saw US and Israeli forces unleash a mix of advanced and cost-effective weaponry, combining next-generation fighter jets and long-range cruise missiles with low-cost autonomous drones, marking a sharp escalation in both scale and strategy.

Alongside the newly deployed LUCAS drones, the mission involved Tomahawk cruise missiles and advanced fighter aircraft, including the F/A-18 and F-35 jets. US Central Command (CENTCOM) later released photographs showing Tomahawk missiles and fighter aircraft involved in the operation.

First combat use of LUCAS drone

As part of Operation Epic Fury, the US military fielded the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), a one-way “kamikaze” drone reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136 platform.“For the first time in history is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury. These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran’s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution,” CENTCOM announced on X.

What is LUCAS?

According to the Pentagon, the drones used in the strike appear identical to the LUCAS system manufactured by Spektreworks, a Phoenix, Arizona-based company, Reuters reported.Designed as a low-cost, expendable system, LUCAS is intended for large-scale production by multiple manufacturers.Each unit costs approximately $35,000, making it significantly cheaper than many conventional precision weapons.The growing reliance on such drones reflects a broader military shift toward what officials describe as “affordable mass” deploying large numbers of relatively inexpensive weapons to overwhelm adversaries. The strategy gained prominence following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which highlighted the battlefield effectiveness of drones.

How it works?

LUCAS is designed with a modular, open-architecture system that enables it to perform multiple mission profiles, including strike operations, reconnaissance, and communications support. Its flexible configuration allows operators to quickly swap payloads depending on operational needs. It is capable of operating both as a target drone for training and as a combat UAV in active missions. Notably, LUCAS is built to be handled by non-specialized personnel, offering a key logistical advantage in rapidly evolving conflict zones.According to Defence Security Asia, the drone is capable of operating at medium altitudes over extended ranges, further expanding its battlefield utility.CENTCOM said Operation Epic Fury targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command-and-control facilities, Iranian air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

Tomahawk cruise missiles deployed

The strikes also featured Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, long-range, precision-guided cruise missiles typically launched from sea-based platforms for deep-strike missions.The Tomahawk can strike targets up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, including in heavily defended airspace. It measures about 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length, has an 8.5-foot wingspan, and weighs roughly 3,330 pounds (1,510 kg).According to Pentagon budget documents, the US plans to purchase 57 Tomahawk missiles in 2026 at an average cost of about $1.3 million each. Tomahawks have previously been used in operational settings, including strikes by US and UK naval forces on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Fighter jets in action

The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, is designed to evade radar detection while carrying precision-guided munitions. It can deploy a range of missiles, including those capable of targeting and destroying enemy radar systems.The F/A-18, manufactured by Boeing, is a multi-role aircraft capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, carrying various bombs and missiles.The United States has deployed F-35s extensively across the Middle East, and the aircraft is also operated by the Israeli Air Force.