Secret SAS spy drone can track terrorists anywhere in the world and stay airborne for 45 days

THE SAS is building a fleet of solar-powered surveillance drones capable of staying airborne for up to 45 days at a time.

Britain has just bought its third "pseudo-satellite" drone capable of soaring to 70,000 feet, twice as a high as a passenger jet.

The trio of surveillance craft will be used to spy on terrorists around the world and are said to resemble Klingon Bird of Prey spaceships from Star Trek.

The drone is called the Zephyr S and has been built under a £13million contract with Airbus Defence and Space.

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Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary, told The Mail: "Zephyr is a cutting edge, record-breaking piece of kit that will be capable of gathering constant, reliable information over vast geographical areas.

"They are part of our plan for stronger and better defence, backed by a budget that will rise every year of this decade.

"That means more ships, more aircraft, more troops available at readiness, better equipment for special forces, more being spent on cyber - to deal with the increased threats to our country."

Airbus designed the Zephyr S  in Farnborough, although exact details about its capabilities are shrouded in secrecy.

The MoD ordered two earlier this year and is expected to begin testing them in 2017.

In a statement, the MoD said: "Referred to as a high-altitude pseudo-satellite, it performs more like a satellite than a conventional unmanned aerial vehicle [drone]."