‘Suicide’ drone first tested by San Diego warship used in attack against Iran – San Diego Union-Tribune

An unmanned “suicide” drone that was initially tested by a San Diego warship in December was used in combat for the first time Saturday during the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, according to the U.S. Central Command.

The littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara test flew the Low Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) one-way drone while on deployment in the Persian Gulf, where the vessel is still operating.

Central Command did not say how many of the $35,000 drones were used, or which ship or ships launched them. But it indicated that the drones were used to strike command and control facilities in Iran.

The attack represented a moment of irony; the LUCAS drones were reversed engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136 drones.

The assault also highlights the Navy’s rapid push to develop a variety of unmanned systems, including the unmanned surface vessel ships it has begun to station in San Diego.