Centcom commander says ‘hundreds’ of U.S. drones are involved in Iran war
The American military launched more one-way attack drones last night against Iran, U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday, adding that “hundreds” of unmanned platforms have been involved in Operation Epic Fury in various roles to date.
Tuesday’s announcement comes several weeks after Centcom noted that it had employed long-range kamikaze drones in combat for the first time during the early days of the Iran war, which President Donald Trump commenced on Feb. 28. Those platforms, known as the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack Systems (LUCAS), were reverse-engineered and are similar to Iran’s Shahed weapons.
In early March, a Centcom spokesperson told DefenseScoop that “LUCAS drones remain ready for employment.”
Centcom’s post on social media platform X on Tuesday did not disclose whether the one-way drone attacks launched last night included LUCAS platforms or other systems, or how many were deployed in the assault.
Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, U.S. Central Command’s spokesperson, told DefenseScoop that LUCAS platforms were part of last night’s attack, but he didn’t disclose how many took part, what types of targets they struck, or where they were launched from.
LUCAS platforms have a reported range of 500 miles and a wingspan of 8 feet, as well as autonomy, anti-jamming and swarming capabilities. They can be launched with catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle systems. The unit cost is reportedly $55,000 or less, which is less expensive than many traditional missile systems.
The command in its social post noted that a large number of unmanned systems across various domains have been involved in the war effort.
“Today, hundreds of U.S. drones are fully integrated into offensive and defensive operations against Iran. These platforms operate in the air, at sea, under the sea and on the ground in support of our military objectives,” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of Centcom, said in the statement posted on social media Tuesday.
In a press briefing Monday at the White House, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine noted that “tactical drones” helped provide overhead protection for U.S. forces that were involved in the rescue of a downed airman inside Iran over the weekend. He did not identify the specific systems involved. Media outlets have reported that MQ-9 Reapers were involved in the mission.
Centcom’s social media post did not explicitly disclose whether U.S. robotic systems have been operating on the ground inside Iran or if they’ve only been deployed to other locations in the Middle East region.
The Pentagon’s drone arsenal includes an array of UAS, maritime platforms such as uncrewed surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles, and ground-based systems.
Cooper has long been a proponent of integrating a variety of unmanned platforms and AI technologies into U.S. military ops, including during a previous assignment as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and 5th Fleet, which oversaw Task Force 59 and other high-tech initiatives.
Trump has threatened large-scale attacks on power plants and other infrastructure in Iran if the country’s leaders don’t agree to his demands, which include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, before a Tuesday night deadline. It remains to be seen what role unmanned systems would play in that type of effort.
In a post on social media Tuesday evening, Trump wrote: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!”
He continued: “The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.”
Updated on April 7, 2026, at 6:48 PM: This story has been updated to include new comments from President Donald Trump that he posted on social media.
Brandi Vincent contributed reporting.
