LUCAS: New US attack drone designed for low-cost swarms against Iran

The U.S. military has introduced a new domestically produced loitering munition called LUCAS (commercially FLM 136 by SpektreWorks) during Operation Epic Fury, a joint campaign with Israel targeting Iranian military infrastructure. This drone enhances long-range precision strike capabilities while minimizing risks to pilots by operating in heavily defended airspace. LUCAS is designed for scalable swarm deployment, capable of loitering for hours to confirm targets and strike at optimal moments, reducing reliance on expensive manned aircraft and cruise missiles. Operation Epic Fury aims to degrade Iran’s integrated air defense, ballistic missile forces, and command structures through coordinated use of stealth aircraft, stand-off weapons, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems. LUCAS was first demonstrated in December 2025 with a successful sea-based launch from the USS Santa Barbara in the Arabian Gulf, proving its ability to operate from naval platforms without traditional runways. The drone measures about 9.8 feet long with an 8.