- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The United States used an Iranian tactic in its Operation Epic Fury by deploying LUCAS, a low-cost one-way attack drone, demonstrating a new form of its drone warfare capabilities.
According to a report by Jagran.com, the drone deployment is significant in killing Khamenei, as it is a one-way "kamikaze" drone reverse-engineered from Iran's Shahed-136 platform, which means, setback for Khamenei came with his own technology.
"For the first time in history, single-use attack drones are being used in combat during Operation Epic Fury. These low-cost drones, modelled after Iran's Shahed drones, are now being replaced by US-made ones," US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on X.
Each unit costs about $35,000, making it significantly cheaper than many conventional precision weapons. The growing reliance on such drones reflects a major military shift toward what officials call "affordable mass."
This strategy involves deploying large numbers of inexpensive weapons to overwhelm enemies. This strategy gained significant recognition after Russia invaded Ukraine, which highlighted the effectiveness of drones on the battlefield.
How does LUCAS work?
LUCAS is designed as a modular, open-architecture system, allowing it to perform multiple mission profiles, including strike operations, reconnaissance, and communications support. Its flexible configuration allows operators to rapidly change payloads according to operational needs.
It is capable of operating as a target drone for training and as a combat UAV in active missions.
LUCAS is designed to be handled by non-specialists, providing a significant logistical advantage in rapidly changing conflict zones.
Tomhawk, F-35 used
Epic Fury and Lion's Roar saw US and Israeli forces deploying advanced and affordable weapons, including next-generation fighter jets and low-cost autonomous drones equipped with long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, F/A-18 and F-35 jets.
Later, CENTCOM released images of Tomahawk missiles and fighter aircraft involved in the operation.
The Tomahawk can strike targets up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, including heavily defended airspace. It is approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) long, has a wingspan of 8.5 feet, and weighs approximately 3,330 pounds (1,510 kg).
According to Pentagon budget documents, the US plans to buy 57 Tomahawk missiles in 2026, at an average cost of about $1.3 million per missile.
The Tomahawk has been used in operational settings before, including strikes by US and UK naval forces on Houthi targets in Yemen.