Pentagon Plans Mass Production of LUCAS Attack Drones

The Pentagon is moving forward with plans to mass produce LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) one-way attack drones. US forces have already deployed these drones in the Middle East.

Development and Origin

The LUCAS drone is a US version of Iran’s Shahed system, created through reverse-engineering. SpektreWorks, a US company, manufactures the system.

A unit operating these drones was dispatched to the Middle East before Operation Epic Fury.

Strategic Importance and Future Capacity

Pentagon leadership has described the LUCAS system as indispensable in the conflict.

Emil Michael, the Defense Department’s under secretary of defense for research and engineering, stated at a defense industry conference that the aim is to mass produce the drones domestically and establish surge capacity.