Archive · 14 Aug 2026
US launches first multinational multi-domain attack drone task force
The United States military is starting a new team called Task Force Falcon Strike.
It will work together with friends in the Middle East.
This team uses special drones that can attack from the air, on top of the water, and under the sea.
Some of these drones are one-way drones, which means they are built for one mission.
Before this, there was another team called Task Force Scorpion Strike.
That team did many new things, like launching a drone from a US Navy warship for the first time.
The new team will build on what the old team learned.
Ukraine is also helping, because it knows a lot about fighting drones.
Ukraine sent experts and pilots to help protect against Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
The military says working together makes everyone stronger.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced plans to establish Task Force Falcon Strike, the first-ever multinational, multi-domain attack drone task force in West Asia.
Falcon Strike will employ one-way attack drones consisting of unmanned systems that can attack above, on, and below the sea.
The launch comes nine months after CENTCOM established Task Force Scorpion Strike, the US military's first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East.
SOCCENT, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, will lead the task force's staff of US and regional representatives.
Ukraine has sent drone interceptors and pilots to the Middle East, and in May the two countries agreed to allow Ukraine to manufacture drones in joint ventures with American companies.
- Who
- US Central Command (CENTCOM), commanded by Adm. Brad Cooper, and SOCCENT, with regional Middle East partners.
- What
- Launch of Task Force Falcon Strike, the first-ever multinational, multi-domain attack drone task force using one-way attack drones that can attack above, on, and below the sea.
- When
- Announced on Thursday, August 14, nine months after Task Force Scorpion Strike was established.
- Where
- West Asia and the Middle East; SOCCENT is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
- Why
- To expand on Scorpion Strike's success and build a unified multi-domain, multinational drone deterrent amid continued conflict and heightened security tensions in the region.
- Task force name
- Task Force Falcon Strike
- Type
- First-ever multinational, multi-domain attack drone task force
- Capability
- One-way attack drones operating above, on, and below the sea
- Lead command
- US Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)
- Commander
- Adm. Brad Cooper, US Central Command
- Predecessor
- Task Force Scorpion Strike, established nine months earlier
- Scorpion Strike milestones
- First aerial attack drone launch from a US Navy warship in December; Operation Epic Fury; strikes on Iranian port facilities in July
- Ukraine cooperation
- Drone interceptors and pilots sent to Middle East; May memorandum of understanding for joint drone manufacturing with US companies
