Recently, a specific type of weapon has once again gained prominence in the news: the “suicide drones”, also known as “single-use” attack drones.
With the advancement of drone technology, this type of weaponry has been used in recent conflicts, such as the attacks carried out by the United States (USA) against Iran.
What is the Scorpion Strike task force?
According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), this type of “suicide drone” was used for the first time in combat .
In the case of the North American government, they use the system Lucas, sigla para Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (low-cost unmanned combat strike system). In simple terms, it is a low-cost, unmanned attack drone, designed for missions with no return after impacting the target.
This model is part of the Task Force Scorpion Strike, the task force created by the US to accelerate the use of drones of this type in military operations.
“This new task force creates the conditions to use innovation as a deterrent. Equipping our skilled warfighters more quickly with cutting-edge drone capabilities demonstrates U.S. innovation and military strength, which deters bad actors,” CentCom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in an official statement.
“Suicide drones”: what are they?
“Suicide drones” is a popular nickname for “single-use” attack drones. (one-way attack drones, in English), or . It is an unmanned device designed to fulfill a single mission: transport an explosive charge that detonates upon impact with the target.
In fact, these devices combine characteristics of drones and guided projectiles, as they fly like unmanned aircraft but are used as attack munitions.
Within this group, a category worth highlighting is the “loitering ammunition” type; they are systems capable of remaining in the air for a while observing the areauntil the operator confirms the target and authorizes the attack. However, there are also drones used to hit fixed targets following programmed routes.
Because they are disposable and cheaper than large-scale devices, these drones make it possible to increase the volume of attacks without putting pilots at unnecessary risk. Furthermore, they can be used as a type of rapid response to targets.
At the same time, the use of these “suicide drones” increases pressure for clearer rules to reduce the chance of attacks on civilians and prevent misuse.
How do “suicide drones” work?
In the case of the estimated cost of single-strike drones is approximately US$35 thousand per unit. They are currently produced by SpektreWorks. But it’s not just the United States that has this type of device; Iran produces a similar version, officially called the Shahed-136.
It is important to highlight that, as this is sensitive war information, there are still not many precise details about how these drones work. Mainly about the Lucases, what is known is that they have long range and are designed to operate autonomously.
Difference between conventional drones and ‘kamikaze’ drones
Conventional combat drones are often, literally, reusable. I.e, they take off, carry out reconnaissance or attack missions and return.
“Kamikaze” or “suicide” drones are treated like ammunition, as they carry an explosive in their body and detonate when they reach the target.
In fact, this type of suicide drone is considered “cheaper”. In the logic of war, reusable drones require more costly logistics and connectivity to operate multiple times. About that, “kamikaze” drones are simpler, as they are designed for just one use.
Examples of “suicide drones” in other conflicts
Before becoming known for the most recent case involving the US and Iran, this type of drone had already gained prominence in other conflicts, especially the war in Ukraine. A CNA report points out that Russia has started to widely use military drones of the same type.
Overall, these drones attract attention for enable lower cost and the ability to hit targets at long distances. Therefore, they came to be seen as a good option for military strategies.
Another well-known example came from the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. In the conflict, Azerbaijan invested heavily in combat drones and also used the Harop, a model described as a roving munition.
Discover five “suicide drones” used by different nations:
- Lucas (USA): CentCom describes it as a single attack drone that is part of Scorpion Strike.
- Shahed-136 (Iran): Iranian single-strike model and in Russia it is also known as Geran-2.
- Harop (Israel): “suicide drone” system that can fly over the area before diving on the target.
- Switchblade 300 (USA): lightweight model from AeroVironment, described by the company as part of the wandering ammunition family.
- Lancet (Russia): Russian roving munition used to hit ground targets, which gained visibility in the Ukraine war.
Are there regulations for this type of drone?
Today, There is no specific international law just for “suicide drones”. What exists is International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which defines rules on the importance of differentiating between civilian and military targets, avoiding disproportionate attacks and taking care to reduce harm to the population.
Organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross argue that attack decisions because this helps to better predict the effects of the action and reduce the risk of serious errors.
Furthermore, the topic continues to be discussed at the UN and other international forumsmainly about the extent to which a machine can participate in choosing and attacking a target.
As there is still no global consensus, many countries are trying to limit this market with sanctions, export restrictions and other measures to hinder the use of these drones.
