The U.S.–Israel military campaign against Iran has entered its second week, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Iranian officials—including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—while escalating regional tensions and introducing a wave of new weapons into active combat.
Operation ‘Epic Wrath’ Begins
The United States launched Operation ‘Epic Wrath’ last Saturday (February 28, 2026), coordinating large-scale joint strikes with Israel across Iranian territory. The campaign reportedly killed numerous Iranian officials and inflicted significant damage on the country’s armed forces. On Monday, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the operation had already involved ‘several initial engagements,’ though he declined to provide further details.
First Combat Use of Experimental Systems
According to Business Insider, the U.S. military has deployed several newly developed or recently fielded weapon systems in the campaign—effectively using the conflict as a real-world testbed.
On the first day of hostilities, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the newly formed Scorpion Strike Task Force conducted its combat debut using one-way attack drones. Established in December 2025, the task force employed low-cost, unmanned combat attack systems known as LUCAS (Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System), built by American defense firm SpektreWorks.
These drones are based on Iran’s domestically produced Shahed loitering munitions—widely used by Tehran in conflicts across the Middle East and by Russia in Ukraine. As Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a video address on Tuesday (March 3, 2026): ‘These drones were originally of Iranian design. We brought them back to the U.S., upgraded them, and launched them straight back into Iran.’
Precision Strike Missile Enters Combat
Another notable debut is the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a short-range ballistic missile introduced into service two years ago. Designed to replace the older ATACMS system, the PrSM can be fired from the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, each missile costs at least $1.6 million.
Admiral Cooper described the PrSM’s battlefield use as a ‘historic first’ and an ‘unmatched deep-strike capability.’
New Tomahawk Variant Spotted
Imagery released from the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance showed a Tomahawk cruise missile featuring an unusual black, glossy coating—distinct from the standard gray finish. Defense analysts suggest the dark finish may be a low-observable coating designed to reduce radar or visual detection.