A closer look at new Ghost Drone being trialled at RAF Akrotiri

Gunners from 15 Squadron of the RAF Regiment have been experimenting with a new type of drone.

The Ghost Drone, so called because of its ability to remain undetected, uses artificial intelligence to work out how noisy it sounds and what it looks like – from the target's point of view.

Flight Sergeant David Shaw showed Forces News how the drone works and explained what makes it different from other remotely piloted aircraft systems.

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"You can be anywhere in the world. As long as you can get a telephone signal, you can fly this bit of kit.

"So you can have somebody in a bunker in Norfolk, for example, flying this bit of kit in Akrotiri (Cyprus)," Flt Sgt Shaw explained.

Used for intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, the drone is used to detect and track targets.

It can fly for up to 55 minutes, has a range of around 12km, and can operate in temperatures as low as -40°Celsius, at an altitude of 12,000ft.

It is being trialled by the RAF Regiment at RAF Akrotiri, the Royal Marines, and the US Army Experimentation Force.