The Economic Times

US flips the script, reverse-engineers Irans famous Shahed drone, and now uses it in combat

The United States has deployed the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), signaling a shift toward affordable drone warfare. Backed by U.S. Central Command, with Admiral Brad Cooper calling it indispensable, LUCAS reflects lessons from Ukraines drone-heavy conflicts. Costing about $35,000 and capable of long-range strikes, it offers a cheaper alternative to missiles, highlighting a growing emphasis on scalable, low-cost combat systems.