US Launched Kamikaze Drones Against Iran, Reflecting Lessons Learned From Ukraine

Operation Epic Fury saw over 1,700 U.S. strikes on Iran's IRGC assets and leadership within 72 hours. These operations extensively utilized air-delivered munitions from various aircraft and naval vessels. A significant development was the U.S. military's first combat use of one-way kamikaze drones. These drones are low-cost and modeled after Iranian Shahed drones. U.S. CENTCOM confirmed their use by Task Force Scorpion Strike in Operation Epic Fury. Footage emerged of a recovered U.S. LUCAS drone, an American copy of the Shahed-136, in Iraq. The drone appeared largely intact after crashing. The U.S. military's adoption of these drones is informed by warfare in Eastern Europe. The proliferation of these low-cost drones has fundamentally changed modern warfare. Their inexpensive, mass-produced nature is increasingly vital in altering the economics of conflict.