New Drone Task Force by US Aims to Counter Iran’s Shahed Threat

Dubai: The United States has announced a new drone task force in the Middle East, representing a significant shift in its defense strategy. Task Force Scorpion Strike, under the command of US Central Command (CENTCOM), will supervise America’s first operational squadron of one-way-attack drones designed to combat Iran’s growing unmanned threats.

CENTCOM confirmed the establishment of this task force on Wednesday, calling it a major advancement for adapting to a warfare environment increasingly influenced by low-cost, long-range drones. This new fleet is termed the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS), developed from designs reverse-engineered after examining an Iranian Shahed drone’s airframe, guidance systems, and launch techniques.

These developments have led to a 10-foot autonomous platform closely resembling the notable Shahed-136 but produced with American-grade reliability. Each LUCAS drone has an estimated cost of $35,000, significantly less than the traditional interceptors which often exceed millions.

Rethinking Drone Warfare

Iran’s Shahed-136 drones have disrupted conflict zones from the Red Sea to Ukraine, frequently deploying in swarms and taxing air-defense systems. In the past two years, Iran-backed militias have repetitively targeted US personnel in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, while Houthi factions have persistently attacked commercial ships with drones and missiles in the Red Sea.

The situation escalated in 2024 when Iran launched approximately 170 drones toward Israel, prompting extensive interception efforts from US and allied forces. This surge in attacks has accelerated the Pentagon’s shift towards adopting more affordable systems capable of countering mass threats.

LUCAS drones are designed for autonomous, long-range operations and can be deployed from catapults, rocket-assisted systems, or mobile vehicles, allowing for swift mobilization in diverse terrains. CENTCOM has refrained from specifying the active number of drones, indicating that “many” are already deployed in the area, with further units forthcoming.

Establishment of a New Task Force

Task Force Scorpion Strike consists of nearly two dozen personnel, including members from the US Special Operations Command–Central. Not all personnel are stationed in the region, and the squadron’s exact location remains classified for security purposes.

This initiative follows CENTCOM’s ramping up of low-cost unmanned system procurement four months ago, recognizing that traditional expensive US arms were being outmatched by adversaries’ economically viable attack drones. Through the deployment of LUCAS, Washington indicates a strategic turn—countering low-cost threats with economically efficient solutions.

The formation of this squadron highlights the broader evolution in modern warfare, where victory is increasingly influenced not only by precision and firepower but also by factors like affordability, quantity, and flexibility.