Bond boat on migrant mission: 007-style super-vessel that could be used to spot dinghies crossing the Channel gets put through its paces at Dover
- The 39 foot sleek craft named Madfox has high-tech surveillance equipment
- It was designed to operate unmanned and has a top speed of more than 40 knots
- Vessel inspected by Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney
James Bond wouldn’t look out of place in the speedboat being put through its paces by the Royal Navy in Dover yesterday.
But rather than catching super-villains, this sleek vessel could be used to spot migrants crossing the Channel.
The 39ft grey and black craft named Madfox bristles with high-tech surveillance equipment and has a top speed of more than 40 knots.
The 39ft grey and black craft named Madfox bristles with high-tech surveillance equipment and has a top speed of more than 40 knots
Designed to operate unmanned, it was developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and US-based company L3Harris ASV.
The vessel was inspected by the Home Office’s Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, Dan O’Mahoney, after it arrived from the Solent.
He said: ‘We are working day and night to secure our borders and to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
Nearly 9,000 men, women and children have sailed from the Calais region this year despite Home Secretary Priti Patel pledging to stem the flow (file image)
‘This new technology could help in our mission to make these crossings unviable by gathering evidence for prosecutions, preventing uncontrolled landings and supporting operations to save lives at sea.’
Nearly 9,000 men, women and children have sailed from the Calais region this year despite Home Secretary Priti Patel pledging to stem the flow.
Last year the total was just 1,850.