Florida Fishing Charter Recovers Lost Air Force Attack Drone

A Florida fishing charter operating off the coast of Pensacola discovered and hauled aboard a U.S. military LUCAS (Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) attack drone that had gone down during routine testing from Eglin Air Force Base. The 10-foot-long, one-way attack drone, modeled after Iran’s Shahed-136, was found floating in the Gulf of Mexico on September 19, two days after impacting the water. The charter crew turned the device over to the local sheriff's department, and the Air Force subsequently recovered it.

// Background

The Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) is a one-way 'kamikaze' attack drone derived from designs modeled after Iran’s Shahed-136. These systems have recently been integrated into U.S. Central Command operations, such as Operation Epic Fury. Eglin Air Force Base serves as a major test and evaluation center for Air Force weapons, guidance, and command systems along the Florida Gulf Coast.

// Key Developments

• A fishing charter boat (Hot Spots Charters) found an Air Force LUCAS attack drone floating about 20 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass.
• Eglin Air Force Base confirmed the uncrewed aircraft impacted the water on Sept. 17 during routine scheduled testing.
• The 10-foot-long, waterlogged drone required six men to haul it aboard after initially being spotted alongside debris like coolers and pool floats.
• The charter boat customers included military search-and-rescue helicopter pilots who initially suspected a capsized boat.
• The drone was turned over to the local sheriff's department before being successfully retrieved by the Department of Defense.