U.S. Central Command announced Thursday that it is establishing the first-ever multi-domain, multinational attack drone task force, bringing together U.S. forces and regional partners to operate one-way attack drones across the Middle East.

The new unit, called Task Force Falcon Strike, will employ unmanned attack systems operating in the air, on the surface of the sea and below the water. The drones will be operated by military support personnel from the United States and participating regional partners.

Falcon Strike builds on Task Force Scorpion Strike, which CENTCOM established nine months ago as the U.S. military’s first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East. CENTCOM said Scorpion Strike achieved several operational milestones, including the first-ever launch of an aerial attack drone from a U.S. Navy warship last December.

The squadron also employed one-way unmanned aerial systems during Operation Epic Fury and used unmanned attack vessels during strikes on Iranian port facilities in July.

“Task Force Falcon Strike will expand on Scorpion Strike’s success given the tremendous innovation happening among our regional allies and partners,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. “Integrating and deploying our new capabilities together will help us rapidly realize the new possibilities that are on the horizon.”

CENTCOM has begun consulting with and formally inviting regional partners to join the initiative. As additional countries participate, the task force is intended to integrate attack-drone capabilities across the region into a unified, multinational and multi-domain force.

Personnel from U.S. Special Operations Command Central, which established Scorpion Strike, will lead Falcon Strike’s staff of American and regional representatives.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)