The RAF’s future drone has been unveiled for the first time to the crews that will fly it .

Britain’s new armed surveillance drones, called Protector, will be able to fly for up to 40 hours, over double the time of the current Reaper aircraft, and strike terrorists with precision missiles and laser-guided bombs.

New “game changing technology” means that the Protector Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) is capable of taxiing, taking off and landing anywhere in the world controlled via satellite link from a remote base. With special anti-icing and lightning protection, Protector will be able to conduct missions in adverse weather conditions.

It means that in future RAF pilots will be able to attack targets anywhere around the world from their home base in Waddington, Lincolnshire, without having to deploy ground crews.

Up to now, drones have needed ground control stations at the airbase they fly from and land at, and have not been certified to fly in regulated airspace alongside civilian air traffic.