The United States has used a reverse-engineered version of Iran's Shahed 136 drone against Iran in recent Gulf clashes. This low-cost unmanned system, known as LUCAS, marks its first combat deployment amid escalating tensions. The move highlights how inexpensive drones are reshaping modern warfare economics.
In retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, Iran has employed Shahed 136 drones alongside other equipment in attacks around the Gulf this week. The Shahed 136, developed by Iranian company Shahed Aviation Industries, measures 2.6 metres long and can deliver 15-kilogram payloads over 2500 kilometres at speeds of about 185 kilometres per hour. Its estimated cost of $50,000 per unit makes it an affordable option compared to advanced missiles or aircraft.
The US military responded by deploying the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), produced by Arizona-based Spektreworks. This modular drone, dubbed FLM 136 in reference to its Iranian counterpart, is a direct copy reverse-engineered from units captured from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. It was successfully test-launched from a US Navy ship last year and saw its debut in combat against Iran.
Experts note the Shahed 136's role in overwhelming defenses through sheer numbers. Anthony King at the University of Exeter compares it to the Nazi V-1 'doodlebug' from World War II, emphasizing its scalability. "You’re knocking them out of the sky with ordnance that’s way more expensive not just than the Shahed, but sometimes it’s more expensive than the thing that the Shahed is actually hitting," King says. He adds that such systems alter war's economic balance, as interceptors like Patriot missiles often cost more than their targets.
Iran's design may trace back to a 1980s German-US project, the Dornier 'Die Drohne Antiradar.' Ian Muirhead, formerly of the UK military and now at the University of Manchester, explains that while Shahed drones won't supplant sophisticated weapons, they suit large-scale conflicts with limited forces. "It’s just economics: if it costs you 10 times more for your defence than it is for your attackers, you’re never going to be able to outpace the other side," Muirhead states.
These drones have seen extensive use elsewhere, including hundreds deployed daily by Russia in Ukraine and by Houthi forces in Yemen, necessitating multilayered air defenses.
