News

LUCAS Combat Debut in Iran Came Amid U.S. Strike Package

Reuters reported that U.S. strikes on Iran marked the combat debut of the LUCAS one-way attack drone after a fast-tracked Pentagon procurement effort, alongside Tomahawk missiles and combat aircraft.

Published Mar 1, 2026United States-Iran Conflict

LUCAS BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35 Lightning II B-2 Spirit

LUCAS reaches combat use

Reuters reported on March 3, 2026, that the U.S. had debuted the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, in combat in Iran after a fast-tracked Pentagon procurement effort. The report identified SpektreWorks as the Arizona-based builder and described the system as moving from Pentagon showcase to combat use in a short span.

The LUCAS catalog entry provides the broader platform context for that report, while CENTCOM's Operation Epic Fury fact sheet links the system to the strike campaign and lists LUCAS among the assets employed.

Sources: Reuters: US debuts suicide drone in Iran after fast-tracked Pentagon procurement, Al-Monitor Reuters Reprint, CENTCOM Operation Epic Fury Fact Sheet

Strike package context

Reuters' March 1 strike reporting said U.S. forces used low-cost one-way attack drones alongside Tomahawk missiles and aircraft during Operation Epic Fury. The later March 3 report kept the same operational backdrop while focusing on the LUCAS system's first reported combat use.

Tomahawk is the directly linked cruise-missile system in this article. The existing Tomahawk catalog page covers the missile family, and the strike reporting ties it to the same Iran operation as the drone debut story.

Sources: Reuters: U.S. deploys suicide drones and Tomahawk missiles in Iran strikes, TBS Reuters Reprint, CENTCOM Operation Epic Fury Fact Sheet

Aircraft named in the reporting

The Reuters coverage also said CENTCOM imagery showed F/A-18 and F-35 fighters in the strike package. The fact sheet added B-2 bombers to the list of assets associated with Operation Epic Fury, giving the article a broader picture of the air and standoff systems described by the reporting.

This article stays within the sourcing limits of the reports and the fact sheet. It identifies the weapons and platforms named by the sources and does not infer target effects or battlefield outcomes from the mix alone.

Sources: Reuters: U.S. deploys suicide drones and Tomahawk missiles in Iran strikes, TBS Reuters Reprint, CENTCOM Operation Epic Fury Fact Sheet

Related Weapon Systems

LUCAS, One-way attack UAV / loitering munition, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsLUCASOne-way attack UAV / loitering munitionLUCAS, the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, is a U.S. one-way attack UAV associated with SpektreWorks' FLM 136 airframe and fielded through CENTCOM's Task Force Scorpion Strike. The system emphasizes affordable mass, autonomous operation, multiple launch methods, and long-range strike utility, and CENTCOM said it was used in combat during Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, Ship- and submarine-launched land-attack cruise missile, Artillery

ArtilleryBGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack MissileShip- and submarine-launched land-attack cruise missileThe BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, often abbreviated TLAM, is a U.S. all-weather, long-range subsonic cruise missile used by naval forces for deep precision strikes from surface ships and submarines. Modern Block IV and Block V weapons combine low-altitude flight, GPS-aided navigation, terrain matching, and in-flight retargeting, with recent documented use in Syria, the 2018 Syria Missile Strikes, Yemen, the Red Sea Crisis, and U.S. strikes on Iran.

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsF/A-18E/F Super HornetCarrier-capable multirole strike fighterBoeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the U.S. Navy's carrier-capable multirole strike fighter, built for fleet air defense, precision strike, and expeditionary carrier operations. In the catalog's post-2015 scope it appears in carrier deployments tied to Operation Inherent Resolve, the Red Sea crisis, Afghanistan drawdown operations, and U.S. airpower posturing in the Israel-Iran conflict.

F-35 Lightning II, Fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsF-35 Lightning IIFifth-generation stealth multirole fighterThe F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine stealth fighter family built around sensor fusion, networked targeting, and multirole strike missions. U.S. and Israeli variants have documented post-2015 combat use, including Marine Corps F-35B strikes in Afghanistan, U.S. Air Force F-35A escort and air-defense suppression over Iran, and Israeli F-35I air-to-air combat against Iran.

B-2 Spirit, Low-observable strategic heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsB-2 SpiritLow-observable strategic heavy bomberThe B-2 Spirit is a U.S. Air Force low-observable strategic heavy bomber built by Northrop Grumman for long-range conventional and nuclear strike. Its flying-wing design, intercontinental range, and ability to carry heavy precision weapons make it a specialized option for defended or deeply buried targets, with directly documented recent combat use against ISIS camps in Libya, Houthi weapons sites in Yemen, and Iranian military and nuclear targets.

Sources

Reuters: US debuts suicide drone in Iran after fast-tracked Pentagon procurementPublisher: Reuters | Note: Primary Reuters report on the March 3, 2026 LUCAS combat-debut story, including the fast-tracked procurement context and SpektreWorks attribution. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Al-Monitor Reuters ReprintPublisher: Al-Monitor | Note: Reuters-syndicated text carrying the same March 3, 2026 LUCAS combat-debut reporting. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Reuters: U.S. deploys suicide drones and Tomahawk missiles in Iran strikesPublisher: Reuters | Note: Primary Reuters report on U.S. use of Tomahawk missiles, F/A-18 and F-35 fighters, and low-cost one-way attack drones in March 2026 Iran strikes. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 TBS Reuters ReprintPublisher: The Business Standard | Note: Reuters-syndicated text carrying the report details visible for verification, including the reported LUCAS reference, Tomahawk context, and F/A-18 and F-35 imagery. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 CENTCOM Operation Epic FuryPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Official CENTCOM operation page and media entry describing Operation Epic Fury and a U.S. Navy destroyer launching Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles at Iranian military targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 CENTCOM Operation Epic Fury Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Official fact sheet listing selected U.S. assets employed in Operation Epic Fury, including B-2 stealth bombers, F-18 and F-35 fighters, M-142 HIMARS, and LUCAS one-way attack drones. | Accessed: 2026-06-23