Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, has claimed that the United States developed a drone named ‘Lucas’ by imitating Iran’s Shahed-136 drone and has added it to its military arsenal.
He made this statement on Saturday while addressing an event in the western Iranian city of Khorramabad. General Mousavi noted that the innovative thinking of the country’s youth, technical capabilities, and extensive military experience have played a pivotal role in Iran’s advancements in drone technology. As a result of these efforts, Iran’s drone fleet has now become a crucial asset for the nation’s sovereignty and defense.
Highlighting that Iran possesses various types of Shahed-series drones, Mousavi explained that some are designed for direct offensive operations, while others are primarily used for surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Regarding US drone capabilities, the IRGC commander claimed that Washington had emulated the design and capabilities of Iran’s Shahed-136. According to him, the US was compelled to develop the ‘Lucas’ drone—modeled after the Iranian counterpart—and incorporate it into its own military inventory.
Mousavi also cited ‘Operation True Promise 1’ as an example of the capabilities of drones built using indigenous technology. He stated that drones operated by the IRGC Aerospace Force were utilized in that operation, effectively showcasing the prowess of Iran’s domestic drone technology.
