US Central Command expands multinational attack drone task force
Task Force Falcon Strike, announced in August, broadens an existing one-way drone program across air, sea and underwater domains
Published
US Central Command has built a multinational attack drone unit called Task Force Falcon Strike, which it announced on Aug. 13, 2026, according to a CENTCOM public release. The unit will employ one-way attack drones operating in the air, on the sea surface and underwater, operated by US military support staff and regional partners, Stars and Stripes reported.
CENTCOM has not identified which nations will join the force, the Jerusalem Post reported. The task force will be led by personnel from US Special Operations Command Central alongside unnamed regional partners, Breaking Defense reported.
Falcon Strike expands an earlier unit, Task Force Scorpion Strike, established in December 2025 as the first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East, Stars and Stripes reported. Scorpion Strike previously carried out strikes during Operation Epic Fury and against Iranian port facilities in July 2026, and used unmanned attack vessels at sea, Army Times reported. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the task force is meant to harness regional partners' innovation, without naming a specific threat beyond general regional tension, Stars and Stripes reported.
The buildup points to military escalation even as the US denies striking Iran. A dedicated multinational drone unit suggests Central Command expects sustained regional tension rather than de-escalation, raising the chance of further confrontation that could disrupt energy markets and broader sentiment.