US Central Command announced on Thursday plans to establish Task Force Falcon Strike, which it described as its first multinational, multi-domain attack-drone task force, bringing together the United States and regional military partners to operate one-way attack drones across air, land, and maritime domains.
US Central Command launches multinational attack-drone task force
US Central Command announced on Thursday plans to establish Task Force Falcon Strike, which it described as its first multinational, multi-domain attack-drone task force, bringing together the United States and regional military partners to operate one-way attack drones across air, land, and maritime domains.
Falcon Strike follows Task Force Scorpion Strike, which Centcom said was created nine months ago as the US military's first dedicated one-way attack-drone squadron in the Middle East. Scorpion Strike's recorded milestones include the first launch of an aerial attack drone from a US Navy warship in December, participation in Operation Epic Fury, and the use of unmanned attack vessels in strikes against Iranian port facilities in July.
US Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), which established Scorpion Strike, will lead Falcon Strike's staff comprising US and regional representatives. SOCCENT is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and oversees special operations across Centcom's 21-country area of responsibility, covering the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.
Centcom said it has begun consultations with regional partners and plans to formally invite them to join the new task force. As countries join, Falcon Strike is intended to expand and integrate attack-drone capabilities across the Middle East, including unmanned systems operating above, on, and below the sea.
- The source does not identify which regional partner nations have been consulted or invited to join Falcon Strike.
- The source does not state a timeline for formally inviting partners or for the task force becoming operational.
- The source does not specify the number or types of drones to be assigned to Falcon Strike.
- The source does not detail the full scope or outcome of Operation Epic Fury beyond Scorpion Strike's participation.
- The source does not state the cost or budget associated with establishing Falcon Strike.
Read the original at The Times of India