A Low-cost Unmanned Fight Assault System (LUCAS) was launched from the flight deck of littoral fight ship USS Santa Barbara whereas working within the Persian Gulf on Dec. 16, 2025.
In a press launch, the U.S. Division of Protection stated on Dec. 18, 2025 that the launch of a Low-cost Unmanned Fight Assault System (LUCAS) two days earlier marked the primary time such a functionality had been fielded from a ship whereas at sea. The united statesSanta Barbara (LCS 32), an Independence class littoral fight ship commissioned in 2023, used its massive flight deck as a launch platform for the LUCAS drone.
The power to deploy effectors like LUCAS with out the necessity for extra everlasting launch methods, just like the Mark 41 vertical launch system (VLS), will permit deployment from a wider vary of warships and even auxiliaries, in addition to employment from austere areas on land.
The announcement comes solely weeks after the U.S. introduced the deployment of a one-way assault drone (or one-way assault unmanned aerial automobile (OWUAV)) squadron to the Center East beneath the command of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Activity Power Scorpion Strike (TFSS) is meant to leverage new developments in low-cost UAV methods to extra quickly deploy new capabilities to frontline forces.
“This primary profitable launch of LUCAS from a naval vessel marks a major milestone in quickly delivering inexpensive and efficient unmanned capabilities to the warfighter,” stated Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of the U.S. Navy’s fifth Fleet. “This achievement demonstrates the facility of innovation and joint collaboration on this important area.”
Renshaw added that the LUCAS household of drones “will undoubtedly improve regional maritime safety and deterrence”.
“Bravo Zulu. U.S. Navy forces within the Center East are advancing warfighting functionality in new methods, bringing extra putting energy from the ocean and setting circumstances for utilizing innovation as a deterrent.” – Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander pic.twitter.com/WUiAVojTht
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 18, 2025
The precise vary of at the moment in-service LUCAS drones has not been clarified, however is said to be intensive – a specification sheet produced by producer Spektreworks for the FLM-136 product from which LUCAS is derived lists an endurance of 6 hours with a cruising pace of 55 knots. They are often launched utilizing catapults, rocket help, or cell floor methods and automobiles.
Outwardly, the LUCAS drone resembles the Iranian Shahed 136 – additionally identified in Russian service as Geran-2. Shahed 136s have been used extensively within the Center East in addition to in Ukraine, and the relative success of the low-cost and straightforward to fabricate weapon is what has impressed the U.S. and different nations to supply their very own equivalents. Apparently, the Shahed 136 itself is more likely to have been reverse engineered from Israel’s IAI Harpy, which itself relies on an earlier German design.
Ways and Deployment
Whereas these comparatively primary drones can, on their very own, be comparatively simply downed by even easy anti-air weaponry, their power comes from being deployed in saturation assaults. With every system costing far lower than a conventional cruise missile, enormous batches of OWUAVs might be launched from a number of instructions to confuse, overwhelm, and overcome an opponent’s air defence networks. The identical ways with manned plane would theoretically be potential, however at a excessive potential price by way of human pilots. Through the use of unmanned methods to subject the technique every particular person drone might be handled as disposable – the actual focus of the strike being on the package deal as a complete.
A primary particular person perspective from a Ukrainian soldier of a sustained Russian FPV drone assault.
Most individuals – together with Western army thinkers – can’t comprehend the sheer saturation of drones on the battlefield. It’s not one FPV you must evade; it’s a continuing stream. pic.twitter.com/ZsQNJJGyWc
— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) November 1, 2025
Iran, with its way more restricted assets and entry to superior expertise in comparison with the U.S. and different nations, gained a major head-start in deploying these easy however efficient weapons. By means of their ties with Russia, they shortly discovered their method onto the frontlines in Ukraine. Whereas the U.S. retains an enormous technological benefit, the person price and complexity of even a number of the most elementary weapons in service with the U.S. army can outweigh that of those drones by a giant margin. In a long-term, protracted battle this distinction could possibly be very important.
Along with easy ‘suicide’ assaults, the place a drone is fitted with a warhead and easily flown right into a goal, methods just like the Shahed 136 have taken on complete new roles even together with air-to-air fight.
Video of a Russian Shahed / Geran-2 OWA UAV outfitted with an R-60 air-to-air missile downed by the 412th Nemesis Brigade’s Darknode battalion with a Sting interceptor from @wilendhornets. pic.twitter.com/f6VE4uNmu2
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 1, 2025
On their very own, methods like LUCAS are unlikely to switch any present capabilities, however exist as a substitute to supply one more out there choice to army commanders and help in engaging in general targets. Once more, as a result of their comparatively low price, the chance in funding their introduction and deployment is relatively low in comparison with many different proposed applied sciences.
Producers have shortly seen the demand for such a system, and at current defence commerce occasions like DSEI in London an enormous variety of OWUAV choices – each out there to order in addition to these nonetheless in growth – had been on the desk for potential prospects to look at. European business large MBDA, answerable for weapons just like the Meteor air-to-air missile and Storm Shadow cruise missile, launched their One Means Effector product on the Paris Air Present in June 2025 and adopted up with an intensive show at DSEI.
