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A fishing boat recently reeled in a U.S. military drone in the Gulf waters off Florida.<\/p>\n
Hot Spots Charters<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Eglin Air Force Base told AFP that a LUCAS drone \u2014 short for Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System \u2014 “impacted the water during routine scheduled testing” several days before that, on September 17.<\/p>\n
“The aircraft has been recovered and is back in the (Defense) Department’s possession,” the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n
The base routinely conducts exercises in the Gulf waters, and is carrying out a munitions test<\/a> this week. <\/p>\n U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, announced in late 2025 that it was launching a new task force based in the region that was armed with LUCAS drones.<\/p>\n They were used in combat by American forces for the first time a few months later when the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran<\/a> on February 28.<\/p>\n “CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike – for the first time in history – is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury,” CENTCOM said<\/a> at the time. “These low-cost drones, modeled after Iran’s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution.” <\/p>\n Iranian forces have attacked U.S. troops with Shahed drones in the Middle East, while Russia has used them to strike Ukraine.<\/p>\n This is not the first time a fishing boat has landed an unusual catch off the Florida coast. While Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was on a fishing trip in the Florida Keys with her family in 2023, they reeled in 70 pounds of cocaine<\/a>, estimated to be worth more than $1 million.<\/p>\n \n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n \n Go deeper with The Free Press\n <\/p>\n