SAS soldiers are using the Herefordshire skies to learn how to fly a military model aeroplane before it is employed in the battle to track down insurgents in Afghanistan.

The highly-regarded military periodical, Jane's Defence Weekly, reported that trials had been carried out on the 10lb plane near the SAS's base near Hereford as part of the continuing efforts to improve the special forces' reconnaissance-gathering capabilities.

The American-made unmanned aerial vehicle, which is commonly known as Buster, is small enough to be carried in a rucksack and is capable of flying at up to 10,000ft for four hours and at a speed of 35 knots.

It also carries a payload capacity of 3lbs for electro-optical and infra-red surveillance equipment and these factors combine to allow soldiers to manoeuvre the Buster like a radio-controlled model aeroplane over hills and into cave entrances.

According to the periodical, the Special Air Service has been so impressed by the trials in Herefordshire with the lightweight portable aircraft that they have ordered several for use in the violent areas of south Afghanistan for next spring.

A defence source told Jane's Defence Weekly that the SAS would be buying the models within the next six months before explaining the advantages of the planes.

The source said: "They give you that ability to look over the hill without you having to climb it and expose yourself to possible ambush, which you don't want to do in Afghanistan."