Details of the U.S. Military's "Epic Fury" Operation Exposed

Reference News Network March 3 Report According to the Spanish newspaper "ABC" website on March 1, the U.S. has confirmed that during the attack on Iran, U.S. forces used suicide drones for the first time in combat. The U.S. Central Command confirmed in a report that at the beginning of the operation, U.S. forces launched missiles from land, sea, and air, and deployed the "Scorpion Strike" task force.

A statement released by the U.S. Central Command on the X platform confirmed: "The 'Scorpion Strike' task force has used low-cost one-way attack drones in combat for the first time."

This unit, established in December last year, is the first suicide drone unit in the U.S. military. According to information from the Pentagon, the "Scorpion Strike" task force is stationed in the Middle East and evolved from an experimental unit that had the capability to conduct long-range operations and launch low-cost drones in various ways, including via catapults and mobile ground stations.

After Defense Secretary Hegseth pointed out that one of the U.S. military's priorities is the procurement and implementation of low-cost military technology, this unit has seen comprehensive development. In this roadmap, the U.S. military has equipped itself with drones known as the "Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System" (LUCAS). The design of this drone is intended for suicide attacks, reconnaissance, and maritime missions.

According to a Reuters report on February 28, on the 28th, the U.S. launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, stealth fighters, and the first use in actual combat of low-cost one-way attack drones modeled after Iranian designs.

The U.S. Central Command released photos of airstrikes against Iran during Operation "Epic Fury," showcasing Tomahawk missiles, F-18 and F-35 fighters, and detailing the actions taken in the airstrikes against Iran.

Drones

According to photos released by the Pentagon, the suicide drones claimed to be used by the U.S. military are almost identical to the new "Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System" (LUCAS) drones produced by the "Ghost Factory" company located in Phoenix, Arizona. The company has not responded to this matter.

The Pentagon stated that the Central Command has used one-way attack drones modeled after the Iranian "Witness" drones for the first time. These suicide drones will be produced by multiple manufacturers. The unit cost of the LUCAS drone is approximately $35,000. Given that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led the U.S. and other countries to adopt a new strategy known as "cheap mass," which involves having a large number of relatively inexpensive weapons on standby, the role of drones in warfare is becoming increasingly important.

Tomahawk Missiles

The Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile is a long-range cruise missile typically launched from the sea, used for deep strike missions. This precision-guided cruise missile can strike targets up to 1,600 kilometers away and can effectively hit even in heavily defended airspace.

The Tomahawk cruise missile is produced by Raytheon and can be launched from land or sea. According to Pentagon budget data, the U.S. plans to procure 57 of these missiles by 2026, with an average cost of $1.3 million each. Additionally, the U.S. continues to invest in improving and upgrading the missile, including its guidance systems.

A recent agreement between Raytheon and the Pentagon aims to ultimately increase the annual production of Tomahawk cruise missiles to 1,000 units.

Fighters

Photos and videos released by the U.S. Central Command show that F/A-18 and F-35 fighters participated in the airstrikes against Iran.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter capable of evading radar detection and carrying precision-guided weapons. The U.S. has widely deployed the F-35 in the Middle East. The F-18, manufactured by Boeing, is a multirole fighter capable of performing air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and can carry a variety of bombs and missiles.

The missiles that the F-35 can carry are capable of searching for and destroying radar facilities, thereby depriving the enemy of radar signals. The Israeli Air Force is also equipped with F-35 fighters. (Translated by Wang Diqing)