Tehran - BORNA - A report by the American publication The National Interest reveals that the U.S. is developing a new combat drone directly modeled after the Iranian Shahed. The magazine describes this development as a "dramatic reversal" in global military technology patterns.

The ‘LUCAS’ Drone: An American Mirror of Shahed

The National Interest writes that the U.S. Marine Corps is developing a system called the Low-Cost Attrition Strike (LUCAS) drone, which is described as virtually a "carbon copy" of Iran’s Shahed series.

The article emphasizes that for years, the U.S. positioned itself as the leader of global military technology, dismissing others as mere "imitators." However, in the realm of drones, this equation has been overturned. While countries like China, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine invested heavily in drone development, the U.S. remained stagnant and complacent. The report underscores that Iran, particularly with its Shahed series, has become the world’s most influential drone power, with these UAVs playing a prominent role in recent global conflicts.

Global Reach and Reverse Engineering

According to the report, the Shahed drones—specifically the Shahed-136—are now widely utilized across the globe. The American media outlet claims that Russia has become reliant on these drones in the Ukraine conflict, the Zionist regime has expressed concern over their potential presence in occupied Palestine, and Venezuela has authorized Iran to establish production factories on its soil.

In an unexpected turn, the U.S. is now relying on the same Iranian system—not through purchase, but through reverse engineering. The report states that the U.S. acquired a Shahed drone and, by "dissecting" its technology, created the American version, LUCAS.

The publication further notes the historical irony: while Iran reportedly built the foundations of its drone program by reverse-engineering the American RQ-170 in 2011, it has since evolved to produce advanced systems that are now described as being beyond the current manufacturing reach of the United States.

Testing at Yuma and Mass Production Plans

The article adds that the LUCAS drone is virtually identical to the Shahed-136 in appearance and structure, showing no signs of independent innovation. While some may view this as a "counter-response" to Iran's past actions, the main takeaway is that the U.S. military is now utilizing technology from a country it refused to recognize as militarily advanced for years.

Currently, the U.S. Marine Corps is testing the drone at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. LUCAS is planned to have the capability to strike moving targets and operate with a degree of autonomy.

Highlighting the low cost of the drone—approximately $35,000—the magazine writes that the U.S. Department of Defense intends to mass-produce it using several manufacturers, a strategy reminiscent of the "Liberty Ships" production during World War II. U.S. defense officials expect LUCAS to become a vital operational weapon across Europe, West Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and Latin America.

A Warning to Washington

The National Interest concludes with a warning that the U.S. is now "copying" Iranian military technology, a fact that must be taken seriously. It emphasizes that Iran's drone capabilities are far from the "backward" image often presented by Washington. The report raises a critical question: what other advanced systems does Iran possess that could pose a real threat to U.S. forces and their allies in the future?

End Article