Secretive US Drone Modeled After Shahed-136 Revealed—Here’s What We Know

The United States has developed its own counterpart to the Iranian Shahed-136 drone—the same model Russia has used extensively to strike targets across Ukraine, according to International Defence Analysis on X on August 7.

The American version is designated MQM-172 “Arrowhead.”

The defense analysis community shared images of the drone, showing its external design. According to the post, this is the second, upgraded iteration of the MQM-172, built using the Shahed-136 as a reference.

Details about its combat capabilities — including range, endurance, and production cost — have not been disclosed.

Earlier, the United States introduced a low-cost combat drone intended to compete with Iran’s widely deployed Shahed-136, aiming to boost affordable airpower capabilities on today’s battlefields.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reviewed the LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) drone during a demonstration of multi-domain autonomous systems in the Pentagon courtyard.

Developed by Arizona-based company SpektreWorks, LUCAS is designed to be an affordable and adaptable platform tailored for operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

SpektreWorks describes LUCAS as a reliable and cost-effective drone capable of operating in harsh environments with minimal logistical support. Its open architecture allows for the integration of various payloads, enabling the drone to perform reconnaissance, strike, and communications missions.

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