US launches first-ever multinational attack drone task force

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the establishment of Task Force Falcon Strike, the first multi-domain, multinational attack drone task force. This new unit will employ one-way attack drones, integrating unmanned systems operated from above, on, and below the sea by military staff from the United States and its regional partners.

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Task Force Falcon Strike will expand on Scorpion Strike’s success given the tremendous innovation happening among our regional allies and partners.

The launch of Falcon Strike follows the establishment of Task Force Scorpion Strike nine months prior. Scorpion Strike, the U.S. military's first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East, achieved significant operational milestones. These included the first-ever launch of an aerial attack drone from a U.S. Navy warship in December and the deployment of unmanned aerial systems during Operation Epic Fury and strikes on Iranian port facilities.

Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, stated that Task Force Falcon Strike will expand upon Scorpion Strike's achievements, leveraging the innovation seen among regional allies and partners. "Integrating and deploying our new capabilities together will help us rapidly realize the new possibilities that are on the horizon," Cooper said. He added that the U.S. military has strong partnerships in the region and is collectively stronger when integrating and deploying new capabilities together.

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Integrating and deploying our new capabilities together will help us rapidly realize the new possibilities that are on the horizon.

CENTCOM has begun consulting with and officially inviting regional partners to join Task Force Falcon Strike. As partners formally join, the task force will scale its attack drone capabilities across the Middle East, creating a unified, multinational deterrent. Personnel from U.S. Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), which led the creation of Scorpion Strike, will staff Falcon Strike with U.S. and regional representatives.

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The United States military has a lot of strong partnerships and friends in the region. We are collectively stronger when we integrate and deploy new capabilities together.