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US Drones Copy Iran's Kamikaze Tech
20 Apr
Summary
- US drone LUCAS, a copy of Iran's Shahed, has appeared on the battlefield.
- The LUCAS drone costs $35,000 and offers satellite-guided targeting.
- It can attack moving targets and coordinate in swarms, unlike its predecessor.
The United States has deployed its Low-cost, Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone, a design inspired by Iran's Shahed model, onto the battlefield. First spotted in Iraq, this new drone represents a significant shift, marking one of the first times the US has openly adapted an adversary's technology.
Costing approximately $35,000, the LUCAS drone is considerably cheaper than traditional missiles. Unlike the pre-programmed Shahed, LUCAS offers satellite guidance, allowing operators to change targets mid-flight, engage moving objectives like tanks, and coordinate attacks in swarms.
