Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Department of Defense)
The United States unveiled on July 17 a new low-cost drone that appears to be almost an exact copy of Iran’s Shahed-136.
The new drone, dubbed the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), was showcased to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a display of multi-domain autonomous systems in the Pentagon courtyard.
The developer, Arizona-based defense contractor SpektreWorks, said that LUCAS delivers a flexible, attritable platform that can support distributed operations across the Indo-Pacific. It described it as “a reliable and cost-effective Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed to perform in austere conditions with minimal logistical requirements.”
Drone classified by the U.S. military as Group 3 UAS can weigh up to 600 kilograms and operate at altitudes up to 5,500 meters.
Visually, the drone closely resembles Iran’s Shahed-136 suicide drone with a triangular wingspan of approximately 2.5 to 3 meters and a piston engine. The drone seems to be built on or derived from SpektreWorks’s FLM 136 target drone, often mislabeled as FLM 131.
The FLM 136 has an endurance of up to six hours, a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour and can carry a payload weighing 18 kg.
The open architecture of the LUCAS allows it to integrate a variety of payloads, offering a modular approach to reconnaissance, strike, and communications support missions, according to SpektreWorks.
The drone is capable of operating as a target drone or as an optionally powered combat system. It also supports autonomous cooperative missions and provides network-centric strike capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems.
In addition, the drone uses an FLM 131 attritable platform and is equipped with highly compatible guidance systems designed to meet stringent size, weight, and power requirements.
According to SpektreWorks, LUCAS will also operate as a communications relay within the Multi-domain Unmanned Systems Communications mesh network.
The drone features multiple launch configurations, including Rocket-Assisted Take-Off and truck-based deployment. This makes it suitable for rapid fielding by non-specialized personnel.
LUCAS has already completed successful testing and is ready for production, with its integration into active units expected in the near future.
Iran’s Shahed-136 suicide drone proved its worth during multiple conflicts in the Middle East. Russian Geran-series suicide drones, which are reported to be based on the Shahed-136 were also a real gamechanger in the special military operation zone in Ukraine.
The U.S. was likely able to develop the LUCAS based on Shahed and Geran models provided by Israel and Ukraine. The low-cost drone will bring the U.S. military back to the drone race, without a doubt.
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isn’t that embarrassing a country donald thinks is of no worth designs a drone that the “great ” us of a —copies !!!. america is now like japan used to be -copying other countries-remember “made in japan ” ? (but designed in the west ).
trump and company probably don’t know. remember trump has a hard time focusing during intelligence briefings!
trump’s brain is always stuck in “park.”
too many too obvious fake comments votes and names your so obvious you’re self destructive. imo
another transparent fraud. typical of the chosen.
america would have never defeated japan if they didn’t nuke them, never ever. the japs will just keep doing the katana slash. but what they can think of is an atomic bomb whose germans nazis started to develop in the first place. hah so pathetic
more rubbish ignorant bs the english started the atomic bomb
what a liar you are. unbelievable, your name the fake votes the consistent programmed agenda to deceive with the perverse reverse saul alisky rules for radicals playbook, that he dedicated to satan.
iran should sue the amerikunts for intellectual property.
never need to sue you that’s certain.
they should demand royalties on every drone the amerikunts produce.
inferior americunts have been stealing russian technology for a century
pathetic. this just proves the us can’t actually use their own brains and build “originals” it’s just like a kid who copies another kid’s essay and turns it in. .
let them copy the old ones.
damn, the us reveals a drone in the second half of 2025. damn, they are so fast with the tech. first in the market with the drones, tho.
what a moron. i bought my first drone made in america about almost 20 years ago.
“the flm 136 has an endurance of up to six hours, a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour and can carry a payload weighing 18 kg.” the iranian one is able to fly 2000 km with 50 kg charge, cost is something about 7-20 thousands in dollars due to various sources. how much pentagon will pay for copy? 200 thousands 500? it’s quite low for masters of corruption, ha-ha.
you have to allow for 10% for the big guy and $500 for every screw and nut and bolt that goes into it.
as “bonus” it cost american taxpayers only 100 times as much money per drone as russian model. such a deal!
make military industrial complex great again for epstein network profiteering
pygmy technology now superior to americunt
they will now give these to all armed groups who want to fire things at china, iran and russia.
how long before these three target countries do the same and start giving drones to mexican cartels european separatists and whoever else is willing to fire them into the west?