US develops LUCAS kamikaze drone to surpass Iranian Shahed-136 as loitering munitions become core to future warfare.

On July 16, 2025, the United States formally introduced a new loitering munition named LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System), which is being positioned as a functional, low-cost analogue to Iran’s widely used Shahed-136 drone. Developed by the Arizona-based defense contractor SpektreWorks, LUCAS was presented in the Pentagon courtyard as part of a display of autonomous multi-domain systems.
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All drones displayed during the Pentagon’s July 2025 event, including LUCAS, were developed through this system and moved from concept to readiness in as little as eighteen months, compared to the typical six-year cycle. (Picture source: US DoD)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth personally reviewed the drone during the event, where eighteen other autonomous platforms were also shown. This unveiling comes amid a broader effort by the Department of Defense to equip U.S. and allied forces with scalable, attritable unmanned systems capable of supporting dispersed operations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. LUCAS has already completed successful testing and is ready for production, with its integration into active units expected in the near future. Although publicly introduced under the name LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System), the drone seems to be built on or derived from the FLM 136 target drone, often mislabeled as FLM 131, as several hints reinforce this origin.

Firstly, the SpektreWorks website describes an FLM 136 target drone closely matching LUCAS’s size, configuration, and role. Furthermore, SpektreWorks was one of the companies selected for the Army’s Applied Small UAS Prototype Innovation Transition (APFIT) program, which aimed to accelerate transition-ready drone systems into service. This program specifically emphasized attritable, modular, and low-cost designs for contested environments, and the video accompanying the news showed a launch of FLM 136. The renaming pattern also aligns with broader Department of Defense practices, where platforms often receive new designations when entering formal military evaluation or procurement phases, such as the M1126 Stryker based on the LAV III. Technically, the LUCAS/FLM 136 features an open architecture design, which allows for the use of modular payload bays that can accommodate reconnaissance sensors, electronic warfare modules, or explosive charges, depending on mission requirements. It supports 28V and 12V power supplies and includes a payload network enabling remote switching of systems during flight. Its launch methods include truck-based deployment and Rocket-Assisted Take-Off (RATO), enhancing flexibility for field operations without specialized infrastructure or crew training.

The FLM 136 is classified as a Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicle, which means it may weigh up to 600 kilograms and operate at altitudes up to 5,500 meters. Visually, the drone closely resembles Iran’s Shahed-136 with a triangular wingspan of approximately 2.5 to 3 meters and a piston engine. However, LUCAS includes modular enhancements that support reuse in certain configurations, and its integration into the Multi-domain Unmanned Systems Communications (MUSIC) mesh network allows it to serve not only as a loitering munition but also as a communication relay between unmanned systems and command centers. SpektreWorks confirmed that the drone is capable of autonomous coordination with other platforms, making it suitable for swarm tactics and network-centric strike operations. These features differentiate LUCAS from its Iranian counterpart by offering flexibility, digital control, and integration within a broader American combat architecture, with a launch weight in the 70 to 100 kilogram range.

The introduction of LUCAS occurs in the context of a sweeping transformation in U.S. drone policy under the Trump administration’s July 10, 2025, memorandum titled “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance.” Signed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and supported by Executive Order 14307, the initiative aims to dramatically increase the pace of drone acquisition, reduce regulatory burdens, and scale production of expendable systems. Under the new policy, Group 1 and Group 2 drones are reclassified as “consumer goods” or “expendables,” enabling them to be treated similarly to ammunition such as grenades rather than as traditional aircraft. Although LUCAS falls under the heavier Group 3 classification, the same principles are now being applied to accelerate its fielding. Commanders at the unit level are empowered to directly procure drones, bypassing legacy acquisition frameworks and enabling more agile battlefield innovation. These changes are also supported by new investment channels and procurement authorities tied to domestic industrial capacity.

Although publicly introduced under the name LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System), the drone seems to be built on or derived from the FLM 136 target drone, often mislabeled as FLM 131, as several hints reinforce this origin. (Picture source: SpektreWorks)

This reorientation of U.S. drone policy is supported by new funding mechanisms and structural reforms within the Department of Defense. The Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER), once a standalone program under the previous administration, has now been institutionalized within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Its methods are now embedded in what is known as Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX), which conducts live-fire events at least twice a year. All drones displayed during the Pentagon’s July 2025 event, including LUCAS, were developed through this system and moved from concept to readiness in as little as eighteen months, compared to the typical six-year cycle. At the same time, the Department is expanding the Blue UAS List, a catalog of approved drones and subsystems, to allow submissions from lower-level units and developers. The intent is to scale innovation from the bottom up, supported by procurement processes that favor U.S.-made products through the “Buy American” initiative and contributions from AI and robotics experts.

Parallel to this domestic overhaul, the U.S. Department of Commerce has opened a Section 232 national security investigation into the importation of drones and components, particularly those from Chinese companies such as DJI and Autel Robotics. This investigation, launched quietly on July 1 and made public on July 15, seeks to determine whether reliance on foreign-manufactured drones undermines U.S. national security and supply chain resilience. The probe could result in tariffs, procurement bans, or even import restrictions, further incentivizing the Pentagon and commercial sectors to transition toward U.S.-made platforms such as LUCAS. Industry groups, including the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), have voiced strong support for the investigation, arguing that dominance by subsidized foreign competitors has stifled American innovation and created vulnerabilities in military and critical infrastructure operations. The White House has also encouraged the Federal Aviation Administration to accelerate drone certification and airspace integration processes, especially for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and unmanned traffic management systems.

The Shahed-136 drone, originally developed by Iran’s Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), has become a pivotal asset in modern asymmetric warfare. Known for its affordability, range of up to 2,500 kilometers, and ability to carry explosive payloads on one-way missions, the Shahed-136 has seen widespread deployment in Ukraine and across the Middle East. Its low cost and use of commercial off-the-shelf components enable mass production and deployment in swarms, particularly in attacks targeting civilian and military infrastructure. Russia has adopted and rebranded the drone as the Geran-2, employing it extensively during its campaign in Ukraine to saturate air defenses and overwhelm radar coverage. These tactics have had both operational and psychological impacts, revealing vulnerabilities in traditional layered defense systems and underscoring the need for low-cost countermeasures and equivalents.

Because of its simplicity, low production requirements, and demonstrated impact, the Shahed-136 has inspired a wave of imitators and adaptations globally. Reports indicate that similar drones have been used or developed in Belarus, Israel, China, Ukraine, Türkiye, Venezuela, Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, and North Korea, with some governments conducting reverse-engineering based on captured or downed units. The drone’s appeal lies in its accessibility and strategic value, capable of bypassing advanced defense systems with saturation attacks while costing only a fraction of the price of guided missiles. For these reasons, the Shahed has become a symbol of next-generation attritable airpower. The United States’ introduction of LUCAS, designed not just as a copy, but as a network-enabled, modular, and potentially reusable alternative, reflects an understanding that to remain operationally relevant in drone warfare, systems must be scalable, adaptable, and deeply integrated into both tactical and strategic doctrine. LUCAS thus marks not only a technological response, but also a doctrinal one, to the emerging global proliferation of loitering munitions.