On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on social media the combat debut of the new LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) strike drones, also known as FLM 136, during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, as part of Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS).
Photos: CENTCOM
The details of their use remain unknown, but this low-cost, expendable loitering munition closely resembles the design layout of the Iranian Shahed-136 UAVs, which are produced in an improved licensed version in Russia as the Geran-2 (with similar plans reportedly under consideration in North Korea). This resemblance is no coincidence, as its manufacturer, the Arizona-based company SpektreWorks, openly states on its website that the FLM 136 is the result of reverse engineering, with even the factory designation referencing the original.
CENTCOM had already reported on December 3, 2025, that the newest One-Way Attack (OWA) weapons had been deployed in the Middle East region. The exact location was not disclosed, but the first drone squadron was formed for this purpose. Interestingly, on the same day, tests of the LUCAS system were also reported at the Yuma Proving Ground, conducted on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC).
Interestingly, until recently it had been reported that tests were being conducted using training warheads, and that operational warheads were still to be developed. Now, following the combat debut, it can be assumed that this future has arrived very quickly (photographs from the deployment show various payloads mounted on the airframes — editor’s note). The LUCAS system was developed under the APFIT (Applied Small UAS Prototype Innovation Transition) program, for which the company was selected in May 2025.
The UAV was later presented on July 16, 2025, along with 18 types of unmanned systems, to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington, D.C. This was related to plans for the large-scale introduction of drones into the U.S. armed forces, after Decision No. 14307, which removed restrictive policies hindering drone production, came into force on July 10. Earlier, on June 6, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating the production of American unmanned systems by leveraging the latest innovative industry technologies.
According to available information, the FLM 136 is powered by an internal combustion engine, providing an endurance of up to 6 hours, a cruise speed of 137 km/h, a maximum speed of 195 km/h, and a range of up to 822 km. It can operate at altitudes of up to 4,572 m and in winds of up to 65 km/h. The FLM 136 has a wingspan of 2.5 m, a length of 2.99 m, and a height of 0.46 m. Its maximum take-off weight is 81.65 kg, including 18.14 kg of payload and 33.11 kg of fuel.
For comparison, the Shahed-136/Geran-2 measures 3.5 m in length with a 2.5 m wingspan, and has a maximum take-off weight of about 200 kg. The UAV carries a warhead weighing between 30 and 50 kg. It was developed by the Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center and was originally produced solely by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA). The range of the loitering munition is not precisely known and is estimated to be between 970 and as much as 2,500 km. It is powered by a Mado MD-550 piston engine (which may be a copy of the German Limbach L550E). This is a four-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled combustion engine with an output of 50 hp, produced by the Chinese company Wofei Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. It provides a cruise speed of about 185 km/h. One of its drawbacks is its loud engine noise, which allows the incoming threat to be heard in advance during the terminal phase of flight. This issue has been addressed in the improved jet-powered variant, the Shahed-238.
As can be seen, the American copy has mostly inferior performance compared to its original. Of course, it is not known where SpektreWorks obtained a Geran-2/Shahed-136, but the most likely source could be Ukraine, which has been continuously attacked with them. Other possibilities include Poland (Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski provided the United States with one example, as revealed in the article “An Iranian Drone Lands in Queens” published in The Wall Street Journal on February 19, 2025) or Israel, which had previously been targeted by Iranian drones.
The manufacturer, however, states that the FLM 136 is structurally more advanced, as it features a modular design and, in addition to warheads, can carry other payloads such as reconnaissance systems or electronic warfare equipment.
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 Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VYdjiECKDT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 28, 2026