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CENTCOM confirms first use of LUCAS kamikaze drones — Task Force Scorpion Strike in combat debut

2026-03-01 · 09:00 UTC·Iran

US Central Command formally acknowledged using LUCAS one-way attack drones in its strikes on Iran — the first operational use of Task Force Scorpion Strike, the Pentagon's first dedicated kamikaze drone unit. The low-cost drones, modeled after Iran's Shahed-136, were launched from land and targeted Iranian facilities. Separately, CENTCOM released strike footage showing missiles launched from warships, fighter jets taking off from carrier decks, and precision hits on Iranian ballistic missile launchers.

CENTCOM confirmed on X: "CENTCOM's Task Force Scorpion Strike – for the first time in history – is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury. These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran's Shaheed drones, are now delivering American-made precision destruction." Bloomberg had previously reported that the Pentagon's first unit dedicated to one-way attack drones was being prepared for deployment against Iran. Weapon systems confirmed used in Operation Epic Fury (per Reuters, CENTCOM, Pentagon): • B-2 Spirit stealth bombers (launched from Diego Garcia) • BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles (naval-launched) • LUCAS one-way attack drones (Task Force Scorpion Strike) • F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35 Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagles • HIMARS precision rockets • JASSM-ER cruise missiles (air-launched) • Anthropic's Claude AI was reportedly used in operational planning — Pentagon had $200M AI contract with Anthropic, despite Trump's earlier order to sever ties with the company Pentagon also used "low-cost, attritable" drones — a concept Iran pioneered with the Shahed family. The irony of using Shahed-derived designs against Iran was noted widely.

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Actor responses

CENTCOMSUPPORTINGSTATEMENT

Task Force Scorpion Strike — for the first time in history — is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury.

Sources

T1CENTCOM (X post)99% reliability

T1Reuters99% reliability

T2Jerusalem Post88% reliability

T1Bloomberg97% reliability

T1The Guardian95% reliability

Related signals (2)

U.S. Central Command@@CENTCOMHIGH

CENTCOM confirms: Task Force One-Eye has conducted the first operational use of LUCAS (Long-range Uncrewed Combat Attack Systems) kamikaze drones in combat. These assets provide persistent strike capability against hardened targets. Multiple successful engagements confirmed on Day 2 of operations.

2026-03-01 15:00 UTC

58.0K likes32.0K RT7.8M views

PHAROS NOTEFirst combat use of LUCAS kamikaze drones — significant weapons system debut. Expands US precision strike options against hardened Iranian targets.

US Central Command@@CENTCOMHIGH

CENTCOM's Task Force Scorpion Strike – for the first time in history – is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury. These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran's Shaheed drones, are now delivering American-made precision destruction to Iranian military targets.

2026-03-01 09:00 UTC

389.0K likes234.0K RT27.8M views

PHAROS NOTE✅ Official CENTCOM announcement. First operational use of LUCAS kamikaze drones — the Pentagon's answer to Iran's Shahed-136. The irony of using Shahed-derived designs against Iran itself was not lost on OSINT analysts. Task Force Scorpion Strike was pre-positioned per Bloomberg reporting before the strikes began.