US Central Command launches multinational attack drone task force

The US Central Command announced on Thursday the establishment of Task Force Falcon Strike, its first multinational and multi-domain unit dedicated to one-way attack drone operations integrating unmanned systems from the air, sea surface and underwater, according to Anadolu Agency.

New task force expands drone capabilities

CENTCOM announced the creation of the unit on the social media platform X on Thursday, stating that Task Force Falcon Strike will employ one-way attack drones alongside unmanned systems operating from the air, sea surface and underwater. Military personnel from the United States and allied nations will operate the systems, marking a significant expansion of Washington's unmanned warfare capabilities in the region.

The establishment of the new task force comes nine months after CENTCOM created Task Force Scorpion Strike — the military's first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East. Personnel from US Special Operations Command Central, which launched Scorpion Strike, will lead Falcon Strike's staff comprising American and regional representatives, according to the command.

Cooper stresses alliance integration

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the new unit will build on its predecessor's achievements while harnessing regional technological advances. "Task Force Falcon Strike will expand on Scorpion Strike's success given the tremendous innovation happening among our regional allies and partners," he said, adding that integrating these capabilities would accelerate the realization of emerging operational possibilities.

Cooper emphasized Washington's commitment to collective security frameworks, noting that the US military maintains extensive partnerships throughout the region. "The United States military has a lot of strong partnerships and friends in the region," he said, stressing that allied forces are stronger when integrating and deploying new defense systems together.

Regional participation

CENTCOM said it is currently consulting with and inviting regional partners to join the initiative. With the participation of these partners, Task Force Falcon Strike aims to boost attack drone capabilities across the Middle East, reflecting Washington's broader strategy of burden-sharing in regional security architectures, the command added.