DRONE manufacturers spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to lobby world leaders at last week’s Nato Summit, human rights activists revealed yesterday.

According to research by legal charity Reprieve, arms groups such as General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin paid up to £300,000 to show their wares at the Newport conference. 

“The illegal use of drones to carry out secret bombings is one of the most controversial issues around,” said Reprieve legal director Kat Craig.

“It is deeply worrying to see those firms who may profit most from it able to buy access to such a high-level summit.”

But the arms dealers were not present out of sheer perseverance.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, led by Secretary of State Vince Cable, actively promoted their presence.

“This week shines a spotlight on the UK’s thriving defence industry,” said Business Minister Matthew Hancock.

Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Beth Cowley told the Star that the company had been at the summit, which it was “very proud to support.”

After showcasing its newest F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, Ms Cowley said that “with seven Nato members including the UK already partners and more countries interested in the programme, the aircraft is set to be one of the cornerstones of the alliance’s air capability for decades to come.”

Campaigners believe that drone manufacturers fraternising so closely with the heads of some of the most powerful countries in the world helps perpetuate a war culture.

“Allowing drone manufacturers to buy access to our politicians behind closed doors is no way to ensure we get the transparency we need,” added Ms Craig.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) spokesman Andrew Smith echoed the sentiment.

“These companies thrive on war and conflict, so it’s no surprise that they would use a militaristic summit like Nato to promote their deadly wares,” he said.

“They want to ensure that governments continue to pour billions into weapons, even at the same time as the vital services that people rely on every day are being cut.”

In Parliament yesterday, PM David Cameron said the summit had “proved this organisation is as important to our future security as it has been to the past.”