Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on December 3 a new task force for the US military&rsquo;s first one-way-attack drone squadron based in the Middle East, said a post on X by US CENTCOM on Wednesday. &ldquo;CENTCOM launched Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS) four months after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed acceleration of the acquisition and fielding of affordable drone technology,&rdquo; the post said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1996217608761118914&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=92a695e3547cf2463211d3633b6c821060f9ae9c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 224px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1996217608761118914"></iframe></div></div>Regarding the TFSS, it said that the task force is &ldquo;designed to quickly deliver low cost and effective drone capabilities into the hands of warfighters,&rdquo; adding it has &ldquo;already formed a squadron of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones currently based in the Middle East.&rdquo; Extensive range, autonomous operation&nbsp;The social media post said: &ldquo;LUCAS drones deployed by CENTCOM have an extensive range and are designed to operate autonomously.&rdquo; &ldquo;They can be launched with different mechanisms to include catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle systems.&rdquo; &ldquo;This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent,&rdquo; says the post, quoting Admiral Bradley Cooper, the CENTCOM commander. &lsquo;Cutting-edge drone capabilities&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Equipping our skilled warfighters faster with cutting-edge drone capabilities showcases U.S. military innovation and strength, which deters bad actors.&rdquo; The post adds: &ldquo;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.&rdquo; &ldquo;The joint task force is coordinating innovation efforts among Service components in three focus areas: capability, software, and tech diplomacy.&rdquo; &ldquo;TFSS&rsquo;s efforts to build the one-way-attack drone squadron are led by personnel from Special Operations Command Central and align with REJTF&rsquo;s capability focus area,&rdquo; the post said.

Americas

US CENTCOM announced Task Force Scorpion Strike to rapidly field low-cost, one-way-attack LUCAS drones in the Middle East, providing autonomous, extensive-range capabilities and aligning with broader innovation efforts under the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force. 

Articles tagged with "LUCAS Drones"

US launches one-way-attack drone force in Middle East

US launches one-way-attack drone force in Middle East