Did the US just clone Iran's Shahed? All about LUCAS, America's 'cheap and deadly' kamikaze drone

The United States has introduced a new low-cost combat drone aimed squarely at countering the growing threat of Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones used extensively by Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Unveiled on July 16, 2025, at the Pentagon, the drone—LUCAS, or Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System—has been developed by Arizona-based defense contractor SpektreWorks. It is designed to provide a scalable and affordable option for tactical drone warfare, much like the Shaheds that have allowed Moscow to wage relentless air campaigns since late 2022.

All about LUCAS drone

LUCAS reportedly features a modular, open architecture that supports a range of mission types including strike, reconnaissance, and communications support. Its design allows for quick payload swaps and multiple launch options, such as rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) or deployment from military vehicles.



It can function either as a target drone or a combat UAV, and is built to be operated by non-specialized personnel, giving it a logistical advantage in fast-moving conflict zones.

The drone supports autonomous collaborative missions and is compatible with the Multi-Domain Unmanned System Communication (MUSIC) network. This allows it to act as a communication relay, enhancing secure interoperability between US forces and allies in contested environments.

According to Defence Security Asia, the drones weighing under 600 kg and are capable of operating at medium altitudes and extended ranges. Reportedly, it's price may fall to about USD 100,000, making it an economically viable platform to be fielded en masse.

Interestingly, many on social media platform X said that the LUCAS drone looks identical to the Iranian drone.

"Designed by a US defense startup, it’s virtually identical to Iran’s ‘Shahed 136’ and Russia’s ‘Geran-2’ UAVs," RT.com said in a post.

The unveiling comes amid Russia’s intensifying use of Shahed-type drones to bombard Ukrainian infrastructure and military targets. In response, Ukraine has stepped up its efforts to produce and deploy interceptor drones, with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office confirming on June 21 that the country is rapidly expanding production of its own UAV defense systems.

According to internal Ukrainian estimates seen by Reuters, drones accounted for 69% of strikes on Russian troops and 75% of strikes on vehicles and equipment in 2024.

Kyiv's planned production this year of 30,000 long-range UAVs, designed to attack targets deep inside Russia such as arms depots and energy facilities.