Pentagon's kamikaze drone unit to participate in looming Iran strikes

The Pentagon’s first dedicated kamikaze drone unit stands ready to participate in any strikes President Trump orders against Iran.

Task Force Scorpion evolved from an experimental program and is now fully operational, U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed. “We established the squadron last year to rapidly equip our warfighters with new combat drone capabilities that continue to evolve,” he stated.

The one-way attack unit forms part of the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion. Trump ordered the armada to pressure Iran over its nuclear program while nuclear talks continue in Geneva.

A successful test launch occurred in mid-December from the flight deck of the USS Santa Barbara in the Arabian Gulf. The Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System drones, produced by Arizona-based SpektreWorks, cost roughly $35,000 each.

Reverse-engineered from Iran’s own Shahed-136 design, the lightweight LUCAS drones carry a 40-pound payload and operate autonomously across extensive range for one-way suicide attacks, reconnaissance or maritime strikes.

Analysts say the unit marks a clear pivot from expensive manned platforms like the MQ-9 Reaper toward cheap, high-volume swarms ideally suited to overwhelm softer Iranian targets such as missile production facilities, road networks and launch sites.

Iran’s weakened air defenses would struggle to stop dispersed attacks of this scale.