LUCAS

A US long-range one-way attack drone derived from the Iranian Shahed-136 and intended to deliver affordable mass through coordinated, expendable strike formations.

Overview

The Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, is a propeller-driven US one-way attack drone manufactured by Arizona-based SpektreWorks. Developed from the company's Shahed-like FLM-136 threat-emulation aircraft, it gives US forces a comparatively inexpensive means of attacking targets at ranges of approximately 800 km. Its operational concept emphasizes coordinated salvos rather than the survivability or destructive power of an individual airframe.

LUCAS entered Middle East service with US Central Command's Task Force Scorpion Strike in late 2025 and made its confirmed combat debut against Iran on 28 February 2026. The system can launch from land vehicles, catapults, runways and ships, while selected aircraft may carry satellite communications equipment for beyond-line-of-sight control or relay functions. Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software was selected in May 2026 to support a planned configuration in which groups of LUCAS aircraft coordinate under a single human operator.

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