The United States central command (CENTCOM) has announced plans to establish a multinational drone force in the Middle East under a unified command led by the United States.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, CENTCOM said the new force, to be known as “Falcon Strike,” will be established to coordinate the unmanned capabilities of coalition member states.
According to the statement, “Falcon Strike” will consist of unmanned systems operating across three domains air, surface maritime, and undersea and will coordinate their activities within a joint command structure.
Under the plan, U.S. one-way attack drones, along with similar systems operated by a number of U.S. regional allies, could be integrated into a single network if those countries join the initiative.
CENTCOM said some of these systems are designed for aerial operations, others for surface maritime missions, and others for undersea and submarine-related operations. Their capabilities are expected to be coordinated under a unified command.
According to CENTCOM, the network could be used for both defensive missions and offensive operations, with the stated objective of enhancing coordination among the unmanned capabilities of participating countries.
CENTCOM also said consultations with regional allies on the establishment of “Falcon Strike” have begun, but provided no further details about which countries might participate or when the new force would become operational.
The initiative comes roughly nine months after the United States established the “Scorpion Strike” unmanned force within CENTCOM. That force manages a range of one-way attack unmanned systems.
According to the report, CENTCOM has used these drone capabilities in military engagements with Iran, particularly in July, including attacks against ports in southern Iran.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
