Reverse Suicide Rotation!; America’s New Drone Policy in West Asia

Increased US Threat in Iran’s Vicinity:
Since the drones in this plan are based on the Shahed-136 model but feature additional capabilities and automated coordination, their deployment could boost US ability for precision strikes, swarming attacks, and long-range operations targeting regional assets.

Evolving Deterrence and Military Competition:
The introduction of a large number of low-cost drones will challenge the traditional balance between Iran’s air-missile capabilities and advanced US systems, potentially initiating a new arms race focused on “cheap mass production.”

Uncertain Security and Political Outcomes:
Deploying these systems, which can operate independently and within networks, raises questions about Washington’s intentions: Is it deterrence? Preparing for future offensives? Pressuring Iran? Or fostering a new pattern of regional conflict? The key issue is the impact of deploying the Scorpion Strike drone unit and affordable, network-capable drones on regional power dynamics, security, and Iran’s deterrence against the US. This report explores how this could alter combat rules, increase limited conflicts, or forge a new drone warfare paradigm in West Asia.

Background
The US Army has deployed its first operational unit equipped with affordable kamikaze drones of the “Unmanned Combat Attack System” type in West Asia. These systems are based on reverse-engineering the Iranian Shahed-136 drone. According to Gifron Aerospace, the team leader, establishing the Scorpion Strike Task Force marks a major shift in operational structure and reflects Washington’s new stance on Iran. Earlier reports also highlighted the US military’s need to heavily invest in these Shahed-136 clones, which are quick to produce and adaptable, and could be crucial in future global missions.

Analysis of Findings:

Mechanism of Formation of the Scorpion Task Force
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the formation of the Scorpion Strike Task Force, created under the “US Military Drone Dominance Plan” launched earlier this year by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The task force, which reports directly to the US Special Operations Command Central, is responsible for overseeing the deployment of new drones in the region. Additionally, the “CENTCOM Joint Rapid Response Task Force,” established last September to enhance the deployment of military capabilities, has also been involved. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, explained that the task force includes approximately 24 specialists whose role is to manage the deployment and operation of new drones. He noted that while the exact number of drones deployed remains undisclosed, their deployment is substantial enough to grant the US military a “significant level of operational capability.”

Drones and Estimated Production Cost
The drones, featuring a delta wing design and measuring about 10 feet in length and 8 feet in width, were created by Arizona’s Spectre Works in partnership with the US Army. This system includes technical features enabling ‘automated coordination” among the drones, making them suitable for group tactics and network operations. Captain Tim Hawkins, a project team member, reported that each drone costs approximately $35,000. Despite the low price, the system offers capabilities comparable to traditional long-range US Army systems but at a significantly reduced cost. He also highlighted their long range, the ability to operate beyond line of sight, and extensive coverage potential within CENTCOM’s area. An official CENTCOM statement mentioned that these long-range, autonomous LUCAS drones are now operational in the region and can be launched via various methods, including catapults, rocket-assisted systems, and ground- or vehicle-based launchers.

Multi-platform drones
Military analyst Joseph Trowick explained that LUCAS drones can be launched from various platforms, not just ground-based systems. These drones support multiple launch methods, including deployment from naval vessels, which enhances their value in maritime and sea-based missions. Earlier US military analyses indicated that integrating inexpensive, multi-role drones into the US Navy could add new layers of defense, attack, electronic warfare, intelligence, and networking capabilities. This would transform warships into advanced nodes within a combat network. Trowick also noted that the initial design of the new UAS drone was directly inspired by Iran’s Shahed-136. The US military collaborated with several innovative tech companies to develop and produce the drone, which is a “direct result of that reverse engineering effort”. While it follows the general pattern of the Shahed, some parts have been redesigned to meet US operational requirements.

FLM-136 UAV
SpectreWorks, a manufacturer of these drones, has released specifications for a related design called the FLM-136, described as a “training target” or experimental platform. According to the data, the drone can reach a maximum range of approximately 715 km and remain airborne for up to six hours. Its payload capacity, excluding fuel, is around 18 kg, and it flies at about 137 km/h, with the ability to accelerate to roughly 194 km/h. It remains unclear whether these features fully represent the operational prototype of the combat offensive system or if they only pertain to experimental and early versions.

According to data from the US Army Operational Environment Data Integration Network portal, the Shahed-136 drone features a 50-horsepower internal combustion engine and can reach speeds of around 185 km/h (100 knots). Its standard version has an operational range of approximately 2,000 km and can carry a 40 kg warhead. Designed mainly for point attacks on stationary targets, it relies on pre-programmed targeting data. Recently, Iran has introduced new Shahed-136 variants, including models with advanced guidance systems and a jet engine version with different speeds and ranges. Russia has also started producing the “Geran” variants based on the same design since beginning drone cooperation with Iran. Several derivative models are now part of its arsenal. Reports suggest that both Iran and Russia are working to enhance their drones with more dynamic, flexible, and reactive targeting capabilities, aiming for semi-intelligent drones capable of attacking moving targets or altering course during flight.

The Importance of Cheap, High-Performance Drones
Captain Tim Hawkins announced that the US has reached a new stage: mass-producing drones and deploying them in West Asia for the first time. He described this as a “reverse scenario against Iran,” where the US is using the same approach Iran developed through frequent drone attacks in the region. According to the head of the CENTCOM team at MacDill Air Base, observing Russia’s operations in Ukraine and Iran’s drone attacks on the Zionist regime shows that this tactic can cause significant disruption and impose heavy defense costs on the enemy. From the US perspective, it is now time to apply the same “Iranian strategy” against Iran.
Although the Scorpion Special Forces haven’t yet deployed their new drones in actual missions, they have been tested against regional targets, confirming their operational potential. Hawkins pointed out that enhancing the US’s offensive and defensive capabilities is a concurrent strategy and stated that “sometimes effective defense comes from effective attack.” Until now, the US military has mainly regarded the drones publicly as training tools or threat simulators rather than as active offensive systems.The system could also be employed against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. While the US has announced a formal ceasefire with the group, the capability to strike them remains if necessary. The main obstacle, however, is not a lack of offensive power but rather identifying the right target. From a strategic perspective, drones like Shahed offer advantages beyond West Asia and North Africa, providing the ability to deliver large amounts of low-cost firepower. This enhances the capability to weaken enemy defenses and aligns with the US military’s focus on developing long-range, affordable, and mass-produced weapon systems.

New capabilities
Modern drones can be continuously upgraded thanks to their modular and open architecture design. This setup permits the integration of the latest sensors, navigation tools, and AI components without altering the core drone structure. As previously mentioned, advancements in positioning, navigation, and timing technologies are ongoing, allowing affordable, precision-attack drones to leverage this flexibility to combat electronic warfare. Additionally, the deployment of artificial intelligence in lower-end drones is imminent, enabling them to navigate autonomously without GPS and target moving objects effectively.Consequently, the effectiveness of electronic warfare in disrupting these systems is waning. In the near future, thousands of inexpensive yet highly threatening drones—costing just a fraction of a traditional cruise or ballistic missile—could easily overwhelm and disable even the most advanced enemy air defenses. This capability is expected to become a vital component of future major conflicts. Tim Hawkins notes that development efforts are progressing rapidly, especially for low-cost attack drones that are scalable and upgradeable. Spectre Works is not alone in this market; Gryphon Aerospace, an American company, also supplies a drone similar to the Shahed series, the Arrowhead MQM-172, to the US armed forces.