U.S. Central Command announced plans Aug. 13 to establish Task Force Falcon Strike, which it described as the first multi-domain, multinational attack drone task force.
The planned unit would employ one-way attack drones operating above, on and below the sea. Military support personnel from the United States and participating regional partners would operate the unmanned systems, according to the announcement.
CENTCOM has begun consulting with and formally inviting regional partners. The command did not identify any prospective participant or say when the task force would become operational.
According to the announcement, personnel from U.S. Special Operations Command Central will lead Falcon Strike’s staff of U.S. and regional representatives.
Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s commander, said the task force would build on Task Force Scorpion Strike, a U.S. attack-drone squadron established nine months earlier.
According to CENTCOM, Scorpion Strike launched an aerial attack drone from a U.S. Navy warship last December and used unmanned attack vessels during July strikes on Iranian port facilities.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.