US military deploys low-cost "Lucas" drone built from reverse-engineered Iranian tech

The US military developed and deployed the low-cost Lucas loitering munition by reverse-engineering an Iranian Shahed drone.

Lucas costs $10,000–$55,000, has a 512-mile range, six-hour endurance, 63 mph top speed, and a 20–40 lb warhead.

Thousands of units were ordered and produced via smaller contractors; 6,000 ordered by the Marine Corps were redirected to CENTCOM and used in February.

Officials say Lucas strikes helped reduce Iranian drone attacks during the early conflict period.