THE US is developing new cruise missiles which will be able to communicate with each other allowing them to "swarm" on enemies like insects.

Defence firm Lockheed Martin has been awarded the £81million contract to create the "affordable" version of the subsonic rockets.

The five-year project was handed to the weapons company by the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL).

While the missiles, named Gray Wolf, will be tested by F-16 fighter jets, the US military hopes to adapt them for other types of war planes as well.

Lockheed Martin said the rockets will be able to network with each other allowing them to swoop on enemy targets.