US Central Command establishes multinational one-way attack drone force in Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has launched work to create its first multinational, multi-domain one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle force in the Middle East, the command announced. The unit, named Falcon Strike, will consist entirely of one-way attack drones deployable across land, sea, and undersea domains and will be staffed by military personnel from the United States and regional partners, according to CENTCOM. CENTCOM said the new force was established nine months after it stood up its first specialized drone fleet, Scorpion Strike, which in December 2024 launched a one-way attack drone from a U.S. Navy warship for the first time. The command added that the system was used in operations against Iranian port facilities in July. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the new task force would build on the success of Scorpion Strike through joint innovation with regional partners. The United States has begun formal consultations with those partners, and their participation is intended to turn Falcon Strike into a unified deterrent force across the Middle East, the command said. The task force will operate under the leadership of U.S. Central Special Operations Command, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.