Why is the US adopting similar drones?
For the first time in combat, the US military said it has deployed low-cost, one-way attack drones against Iranian targets.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the drones, which are expendable but cheaper than traditional missiles, were based on lessons drawn from Iran’s own technology.
“These low-cost drones, modelled after Iran’s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution,” CENTCOM said in a statement on X.
The drones are inexpensive and are meant to be produced by several manufacturers, the Pentagon has said.
Photos released by the Pentagon suggest that the drones resemble the LUCAS (Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System) manufactured by Phoenix, Arizona-based Spektreworks.
“The US’ use of LUCAS drones against Iran is significant because these drones are reverse-engineered from Shahed-136. Essentially, the US is giving Iran a taste of its own medicine,” said associate research fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Liu Mei Ching.
The shift also reflects a growing emphasis on cost efficiency.
“Simply put, the United States does not possess unlimited resources. It is far more cost-effective to deploy a LUCAS drone … for about US$35,000 apiece, as opposed to using Tomahawk cruise missiles, for roughly US$2.5 million apiece for the latest versions,” said Steve Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Analysts said the use of both the Shahed and the LUCAS represents an emerging trend.
“Cost has become a decisive factor in weaponeering, and militaries are increasingly pivoting towards using drones, which are equipped with just good enough precision, to achieve various operational objectives,” Liu added.