The United States military has unveiled a new one-way attack drone and confirmed it has been used in recent strikes against Iran. According to the head of United States Central Command, nearly 2,000 targets were hit with roughly the same number of munitions over four days of fighting, including large numbers of the newly deployed drones. The strikes mark the first operational use of this system.

The drone is modeled on Iran’s Shahed 136, a low-cost attack drone widely used by Tehran and its allies. American officials said the original Iranian design was captured, reverse engineered, improved, and then redeployed in combat operations against Iran. The new drone can be launched from multiple platforms, operates autonomously, and is designed for long-range, one-way missions that end when it strikes its target.

Military planners view these so-called kamikaze drones as an inexpensive and effective alternative to cruise missiles. Their relatively low cost allows for large-scale deployment, creating mass strike capability without the high expense of traditional guided missiles. The development reflects a broader shift in modern warfare toward expendable unmanned systems that function as weapons themselves rather than reusable aircraft.