U.S. Central Command announced the creation of Task Force Falcon Strike on August 13, 2026. The new unit is described as the first multinational attack drone task force and will utilize air, surface, and sub-sea one-way attack drones.

Task Force Falcon Strike is intended to scale attack drone capabilities across the Middle East into a unified multi-domain, multinational deterrent as partners join. U.S. Special Operations Command Central will lead the task force. U.S. Central Command is consulting with and officially inviting regional partners to join the initiative.

Admiral Brad Cooper, U.S. Central Command Commander, addressed the formation of the new unit in a press release. "The United States military has a lot of strong partnerships and friends in the region," Cooper said. "We are collectively stronger when we integrate and deploy new capabilities together."

Cooper added that joint operations would accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies. "Integrating and deploying our new capabilities together will help us rapidly realize the new possibilities that are on the horizon." U.S. Central Command declined to identify which countries have joined or are expected to participate in Task Force Falcon Strike.

In July 2026, Task Force Scorpion Strike launched three Corsair drones at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base. These operations occurred during an ongoing conflict in which Iran has launched thousands of drones. At least 18 American service members have died during the conflict with Iran, with more than half of those deaths caused by drones or missiles. Hundreds of American service members have been injured during the conflict with Iran.

Why It Matters

Task Force Falcon Strike represents a shift toward multinational integration of unmanned systems in the Middle East. By incorporating air, surface, and sub-sea platforms, the task force aims to create a multi-domain deterrent. The initiative builds on the operational history of Task Force Scorpion Strike and the combat use of LUCAS and Corsair drones earlier in 2026.

The formation of the task force occurs with significant casualties and continued drone attacks. With more than half of the 18 U.S. service member deaths attributed to drones or missiles, the command seeks to scale capabilities through partner nations. The refusal to name participating countries leaves the specific composition of the multinational force unclear, though official invitations have been extended to regional partners.

Timeline

Task Force Scorpion Strike test-launched the LUCAS drone from the USS Santa Barbara in the Arabian Gulf in December 2025. On Dec. 3, 2025, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the establishment of Task Force Scorpion Strike, the U.S. military's first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East. On Feb. 28, 2026, U.S. Central Command commenced Operation Epic Fury, which included the first combat use of the LUCAS one-way attack drone, targeting Iranian security facilities. The LUCAS drone made its combat debut in late February 2026 during initial strikes against Iran.

In June 2026, U.S. Central Command deployed an unmanned surface vessel known as the Corsair to recover two stranded soldiers in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran shot down their AH-64 Apache helicopter. The deployment of the Corsair unmanned surface vessel marked the U.S. military’s first known use of a maritime drone in a real-world rescue operation. In July 2026, Task Force Scorpion Strike launched three Corsair drones at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base. U.S. Central Command announced the creation of Task Force Falcon Strike on August 13, 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that on Feb. 28, 2026, U.S. Central Command commenced Operation Epic Fury, which included the first combat use of the LUCAS one-way attack drone, targeting Iranian security facilities. Earlier coverage noted that on Dec.

3, 2025, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the establishment of Task Force Scorpion Strike, the U.S. military's first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East. Background materials include research titled Creation of a Unified Logistics Command that was published in 1996. PureSource News previously reported that US Central Command Considers Moving Systems to Israel.