The U.S. military has introduced the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), a one-way attack drone priced between $10,000 and $55,000 per unit, marking its first combat deployment in Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Developed by Arizona-based SpektreWorks, LUCAS derives from a reverse-engineered Iranian Shahed-136, inverting the cost equation in modern warfare by enabling affordable mass strikes.
LUCAS features a modular design with extensive range, autonomy, anti-jamming capabilities, and swarming potential. A related SpektreWorks target drone, FLM 136, specifies a maximum range of 444 miles (over 400 nautical miles), up to six hours endurance, 40-pound payload capacity excluding fuel, cruise speed of 74 knots, and dash speed up to 105 knots. The operational LUCAS carries a warhead sufficient for air-defense sites, radars, command nodes, and logistics, with unit costs around $30,000 to $40,000 depending on variant. It measures approximately 3.05 meters long with a 2.44-meter wingspan, powered by commercial-grade engines.
Launched via catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, or mobile systems, LUCAS flew its first test from a Navy ship in late 2025. U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed its role in initial strikes, stating LUCAS drones “remain ready for employment.” Centcom’s Task Force Scorpion Strike integrated the system months after a mandate for drone dominance.
This aligns with the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Gauntlet, selecting 25 companies on February 6, 2026, to field low-cost attritable drones by 2027, targeting production of hundreds of thousands using open architectures and commercial components for rapid scaling.