Spektre Works LUCAS, the American clone of the Iranian HESA Shahed 136 attack drone

Reverse engineering has been a frequent source of acquiring enemy technology for many years and in various countries.

The USAF arms an F-15E fighter jet with dual-guided rockets to shoot down drones
Overland AI ULTRA, the robotic vehicle tested by the United States Army in Georgia

Russia has been using Iranian HESA Shahed 136 attack drones for years in its campaign of terror against the Ukrainian civilian population. Iran has also used these drones in Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan, and in its attacks against Israel. The United States managed to acquire one of these drones, without revealing how or from whom.

Once the Shahed 136 drone was developed, the Arizona-based company Spektre Works, in collaboration with the U.S. Army, manufactured the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), a drone very similar to the Iranian one. Unlike the sophisticated and expensive attack weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces, this drone has a unit cost of around $35,000, a very low figure for an unmanned aircraft of this type.

In September, the LUCAS was tested at the U.S. Army Proving Ground in Yuma. Yesterday, the US Armed Forces stated: "Harkening back to the Liberty Ship production model that rapidly produced thousands of cargo ships during World War II, testers hope that the LUCAS will eventually serve a similar function in a new era of warfare. The warhead that will eventually be integrated into LUCAS isn’t constructed yet, but it will also be low-cost and mass produced by multiple manufacturers."

The manufacturer's website refers to the LUCAS as FLM 136, even copying the number assigned by HESA to the Iranian drone: "Reverse-engineered for authentic threat emulation. With a professional airframe, broad performance capabilities, and multiple launch options, it offers unparalleled mission versatility. Its large payload capacity, drop-in module compatibility, and multiple auxiliary bays ensure ongoing compatibility to meet your evolving needs."

According to Spektre Works, the FLM 136 has a range of 6 hours or 444 nautical miles (822 km) and a cruising speed of 74 knots (137 km/h), with a maximum speed of 105 knots (194 km/h). Its service ceiling is 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), and it can withstand winds of up to 35 knots (64 km/h).

It appears that the development of the FLM 136 has been rapid, because this Wednesday, December 3, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the deployment of these drones to the Middle East and the creation of "a new task force for the U.S. military’s first one-way-attack drone squadron based in the Middle East", though without specifying the location. The new unit is called Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS), and is "esigned to quickly deliver low cost and effective drone capabilities into the hands of warfighters." CENTCOM added:

"The new task force has already formed a squadron of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones currently based in the Middle East.
LUCAS drones deployed by CENTCOM have an extensive range and are designed to operate autonomously. They can be launched with different mechanisms to include catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle systems."

"This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent," said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. Central Command added: "In September, CENTCOM launched the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force (REJTF) led by its chief technology officer to fast-track processes for outfitting deployed forces with emerging capabilities."

That force "is coordinating innovation efforts among Service components in three focus areas: capability, software, and tech diplomacy. TFSS’s efforts to build the one-way-attack drone squadron are led by personnel from Special Operations Command Central and align with REJTF’s capability focus area." CENTCOM released photos of those LUCAS drones yesterday, which you can see here. According to the information provided, the photos were taken on November 23 at an undisclosed location.

---

Photos: CENTCOM / Spektre Works.