Iran Mocks US for Copying Its Kamikaze Drone

By Amir Daftari

Iran says the United States has been forced to "kneel before an Iranian drone and copy it" after Washington announced plans to deploy U.S.-made versions of Tehran’s Shahed kamikaze drones to the Middle East.

Abolfazl Shekarchi, senior spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, called the deployment a humiliating concession by a global superpower, coming after years in which Iran used low-cost drones against American forces—including the 2024 attack in Jordan—and supplied the systems to allies worldwide, including Russia for use in Ukraine and regional militias across the Middle East.

Newsweek has contacted the State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

The deployment highlights the growing importance of low-cost, expendable drones in modern warfare. These systems have enabled states and militias to conduct precise attacks far cheaper than traditional military platforms.

The rollout comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tension, including U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as part of Israel’s 12-day war earlier this year.

For the U.S., producing its own fleet of drones modeled on the Shahed represents a strategic effort to counter threats previously exploited by Iranian-backed groups and to bolster its presence in an increasingly contested region.

What To Know

On Tuesday, Shekarchi described U.S. and Israeli threats against Tehran as "delusional," emphasizing that the conflict in June demonstrated how such warnings fail "in the real field of battle." He said Iran’s forces, particularly the Revolutionary Guard’s Aerospace Force, remain "a thorn in the throat of the hegemonic system."

The Iranian government also highlighted that its Shahed drones had influenced global military planning, with the U.S. now producing its own version in response.

U.S. Deployment of LUCAS Drones

Last week, the Pentagon confirmed that many Low‑Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are already deployed in the Middle East, with more on the way. The LUCAS drone was developed after U.S. engineers dismantled and reverse‑engineered a captured Iranian Shahed‑136.

Designed to mirror the Shahed’s simple, expendable strike profile, the LUCAS can operate autonomously and launch from multiple platforms, expanding the U.S. supply of low‑cost attack drones in a region where such systems increasingly shape battlefield dynamics.

Each LUCAS drone costs roughly $35,000, considerably more than the Iranian version. The higher cost raises questions about whether the U.S. can rapidly produce sufficient numbers to match the volume of drones deployed by Iran and its regional partners.

Global Proliferation of Shahed Drones

Iran supplied the Shahed design to Russia, where it has been mass‑produced as the Geran‑2 for use in Ukraine.

The drones have been employed extensively against cities and battlefield positions. Tehran maintains that its technology serves defensive purposes and denies involvement in direct combat operations abroad.

The U.S. has repeatedly sanctioned Iranian drone manufacturers and procurement networks for supplying drones to Russia and armed groups across the region. Despite these measures, low‑cost drones continue to shape military strategy and redefine how conflicts are fought across multiple theaters.

What People Are Saying

Abolfazl Shekarchi, senior spokesman for Iran’s armed forces: "There is no greater honor than seeing self‑proclaimed superpowers kneel before an Iranian drone and copy it."

Admiral Brad Cooper, U.S. Central Command commander, said last week: "This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent. Equipping our skilled warfighters faster with cutting-edge drone capabilities showcases U.S. military innovation and strength, which deters bad actors."

What Happens Next

The deployment of LUCAS drones signals a sustained U.S. effort to counter Iran’s expanding unmanned arsenal, while Tehran continues to highlight its growing drone technology as both a military asset and a political statement. The move is likely to intensify the strategic competition over unmanned systems in the Middle East.