CENTCOM Launches First Multinational Attack Drone Task Force
U.S. Central Command stood up Task Force Falcon Strike, its first multinational one-way attack drone force, spanning air, surface and undersea systems with regional partners.
U.S. Central Command announced it has established Task Force Falcon Strike, the first multidomain, multinational attack drone force in the region, according to a Defense Department release. The force will operate one-way attack drones in the air, on the surface and undersea, with personnel drawn from the United States and unspecified regional partners.
What we know
The command said Falcon Strike will “employ one-way attack drones consisting of unmanned systems from above, on, and below the sea operated by military support staff from the United States and regional partners,” Breaking Defense reported. It is CENTCOM’s first standing formation dedicated exclusively to expendable attack drones — the same category of weapon Iran and its proxies have used at scale against shipping in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
The announcement — also covered by Defense News — comes with US and allied naval assets already engaged across the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb and adjacent waters. CENTCOM described Falcon Strike as multidomain, meaning its drones span air, surface and undersea launch profiles, and multinational, distinguishing it from the several US-only counter-drone units already active in theater.
What we don’t know
Neither the Pentagon nor CENTCOM disclosed the participating countries, force size, drone types in inventory, headquarters location, or the intended target set. It is not clear whether Falcon Strike is a stand-alone command or subordinate to an existing joint task force, nor how it will de-conflict with US Fifth Fleet operations. Procurement, funding line, and any allied production commitments were not released. This is a developing story.
Context
The stand-up lands the same day Iran claimed to have downed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hormozgan province, and against the backdrop of a US blockade threat over Iranian oil, with Brent nearing $100 on the week. Two days earlier UAE-operated tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting ADNOC to review Gulf transit.
CENTCOM’s push into a dedicated one-way attack drone formation reflects a doctrinal shift the US Army has been signaling for months, including a hunt for a new sub-$1-million strike missile in the 1,000-kilometer range class. Falcon Strike operationalizes the low-cost, high-volume drone model the Pentagon has watched Iranian and Houthi units use against US and allied ships.
What to watch
- Public identification of the regional partner nations contributing personnel and platforms to Falcon Strike.
- Whether the task force is used offensively against Iran-linked targets or held for deterrence and defensive counter-drone missions.
- First reported strikes, force size, or basing decisions from CENTCOM public affairs.
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