Another spectacular piece of information comes from the Persian Gulf, where tension remains at high levels. According to relevant reports, Iranian electronic warfare units managed to force several of the newest American unmanned aerial vehicles, FLM-136 LUCAS, to land without suffering damage. To understand the significance of the development, it is worth looking at what exactly this specific drone is. The FLM-136 LUCAS was developed by the American company SpektreWorks, based in Arizona, within the framework of the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) program, that is, a low cost unmanned combat attack system. Its development allowed the United States to significantly strengthen its arsenal with long range precision weapons, while at the same time they integrated the new drone into the philosophy of the combined use of manned stealth aircraft, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, and unmanned systems to counter powerful and multi-layered air defense networks. The LUCAS is considered the American equivalent of the Iranian Shahed-136 and the Russian Geran-2. It is a loitering munition drone, capable of locating, tracking, and striking targets with a high reaction speed, significantly reducing the time between locating a target and striking it. This capability is considered particularly critical for the neutralization of mobile missile launchers and air defense systems that constantly change position. Preparations for utilizing the LUCAS in Operation Epic Fury had begun several months before February 28. Already since December 16 of the previous year, its first successful launch from the Independence-class littoral combat ship, USS Santa Barbara, of the US Navy took place.
Targeting the LUCAS
The goal of the test was to prove that the new unmanned aerial vehicle can operate effectively from naval platforms as well. However, as it was proven later, the full utilization of the LUCAS required significant additional expenditures, which had not been foreseen in the American military budget. Monitoring the use of corresponding systems in fields of conflict, the Pentagon initially sought to utilize the commercial terminals of the Starlink satellite network in combination with the new drones. This effort, according to the publication, did not proceed. SpaceX, the company of Elon Musk, reportedly demanded the use of the military version of the system, the Starshield, which is intended exclusively for government and military missions. The cost, according to the same information, increased significantly. A single Starshield terminal reportedly costs approximately 50,000 dollars, while additional expenses are required for the activation of the service and the monthly subscription. This development caused dissatisfaction in the Pentagon, as the LUCAS program itself had been designed with a low financial burden as its basic philosophy. Nevertheless, the military leadership estimated that the operational advantages of the Starshield justified the increased cost. Thus, according to reports, the dispute ended with the complete transition of the program to the use of the Starshield. The additional expenses were justified by the advantages offered by the military platform of SpaceX, such as end-to-end encryption for classified communications, increased resilience against electronic countermeasures, and the capability to adapt the equipment to the requirements of each operational platform.
Intersatellite links
Furthermore, the satellites of the Starshield program are equipped with laser intersatellite links, which ensure the secure and confidential exchange of information. At the same time, they can carry top-secret reconnaissance payloads, supporting the national security needs of the United States. Their most important feature, according to the claims, is that their communications cannot be intercepted or jammed by third parties. In April, during the first ceasefire between the US and Iran, all LUCAS unmanned aerial vehicles were reportedly integrated into the military version of Elon Musk's system, a fact that, according to the same information, led to the immediate tripling of their cost. However, the problems of the Pentagon did not stop there. According to CNN, which cites sources from the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian forces managed to gain control and then land several of the newest American unmanned aerial vehicles, FLM-136 LUCAS. The incident, which reportedly caused intense concern in the US Department of Defense under Pete Hegseth, occurred near strategic Iranian bases in the Hormozgan and Fars provinces. At the same time, there are reports that some of these kamikaze drones were found in excellent technical condition, a fact that raises questions regarding their effectiveness and resilience against modern electronic warfare systems. If the above information corresponds to reality, then the particularly expensive and top-secret space communications and control system acquired by the Pentagon from SpaceX seems to have received a serious blow regarding its reliability and operational value. The relevant claims are accompanied by visual material, which is presented as evidence. However, a critical question remains unanswered: to whom did the electronic warfare systems reportedly used in the operation belong.
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