Nato fears £850 drones could take out some of its most powerful weapons

Radio-controlled drones, or drone equivalents, were trialled as far back as World War I and throughout the 1930s and 1940s, according to Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at RUSI. “However, I think it is generally accepted that drones were first used in large numbers during Vietnam for reconnaissance, as well as becoming more popular in wider use as either decoys or targets,” Mr Savill said.