The US Army is exploring new drone warfare tactics that could target enemy warships and mobile missile launchers in a future Pacific conflict. At the centre of the reported strategy is LUCAS, a relatively low-cost, one-way attack drone developed by US company SpektreWorks and inspired by the design of Iran’s Shahed-136. With a reported range of up to 820 kilometres and an estimated cost of $35,000 per drone, LUCAS could offer a cheaper option for large-scale strikes. Military planners are examining how drones might disable critical systems such as ship radars. However, their effectiveness against heavily defended warships remains unverified.
E-Paper
