The cheaper war gets, the more wars there will be. The more automation is used, the fewer solders/fighters will die, but civilian deaths will rise.

Apparently the Apache AH-64 that went down in the Strait of Hormuz was hit with a Iranian Shahed-136, problem is the Iranians are denying it was them which leaves the question open as to whether some other party did it as a false flag attack to get America back into the fight.

If US leaders open drones to open development it will favour the west. Anybody can build a model aircraft, car, boat, submarine. And there are many weapons and intelligence platforms that can be attached. Sounds like a new version of hackerthon.

Google? 'US reverse engineers shahed'

>>AI Overview
The U.S. military has reverse-engineered the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 kamikaze drone to create the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), a low-cost, one-way attack munition. Developed by Task Force Scorpion Strike to counter regional threats, this drone allows the U.S. to use inexpensive loitering munitions to attack targets in the Middle East.

Key Aspects of the US-Reversed Shahed (LUCAS):

Cost & Purpose:
Developed to counter asymmetric threats, the LUCAS costs roughly $35,000 per unit, similar to the original Iranian drone, allowing for high-volume, "swarm" usage against enemy positions.

Origins:
The U.S. captured, studied, and reverse-engineered damaged Shahed-136 drones.
The program aims to "flip the script" on Iran by using their own technology against them.

First Use:
LUCAS was reported to have been used in combat by CENTCOM in early 2026.

Performance:
While replicating the Shahed's airframe, the U.S. version reportedly features improved electronics, navigation, and reliability to meet U.S. standards.

Components:
The original Iranian drones already contained numerous Western-made parts, including GPS and microchips, aiding the reverse-engineering process.
This effort, according to reports in 2025 and 2026, allows the U.S. to avoid using expensive, high-performance weaponry, such as $30 million Reapers, for less complex target engagements.<<

Google? 'does Israel have LUCAS drones?'

>>AI Overview
LUCAS (Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System) drones are primarily U.S.-developed, kamikaze-style loitering munitions, introduced to the Middle East by CENTCOM in late 2025.
While Iran claims Israel uses these drones, they are officially recognized as a US-produced, reverse-engineered copy of Iran's Shahed-136, intended for use against Iranian-linked targets...

Iran/Israel Claims:
Iranian media and officials have claimed that both the U.S. and Israel are operating these drones to carry out attacks in the region, including on Gulf nations.

While the U.S. is the primary owner and operator of the LUCAS system, the reports suggest its use is closely tied to the U.S.-Israel joint efforts in the region, rather than direct ownership by Israel.<<