Film

Royal Navy destroyer used in new James Bond film 'No Time To Die'

The final trailer for the long-awaited new James Bond film, No Time To Die, has been released ahead of its 30 September premiere in London.

At two minutes and 20 seconds in length, the preview has provided the most significant insight yet to the action fans can look forward to in the forthcoming blockbuster, Bond star Daniel Craig’s final outing as the famous 007.

Montage pictures of the action reveal former characters, including Bond-lover Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) and arch-rival Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christopher Waltz), as well as introducing a new villain, Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek). And alongside a splattering of exotic locations and exploding high-rise buildings, sentimental fans of the franchise will be satisfied to see a full-blown Aston Martin DB5 firing machine guns from its headlights.

The new Bond film, No Time To Die, is released in the UK on 30 September and promises to be the most successful film of the year. Picture: © 2020 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM.

However, Forces observers of James Bond will undoubtedly recognise military assets seen in the trailer, released on Tuesday – one month before the film hits cinema screens.

Here, it can be exclusively revealed that the filmmakers behind the new Bond film secured the use of British military equipment, including an RAF C-17 and Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon.

A Ministry Of Defence source confirmed that the use of Armed Forces equipment in the new Bond film, such as HMS Dragon, formed part of commercial relationships across film and television, that also includes the likes of the BBC’s Top Gear and Disney’s Captain Marvel.

The MOD did not disclose how much it had received financially to allow HMS Dragon and the C-17 to feature in No Time To Die.

In the US version of the trailer, HMS Dragon is seen firing missiles while manoeuvring in warm climates, something the UK version of the film advert does not depict.

An MOD spokesperson confirmed to BFBS that “no weapons were fired during the filming,” suggesting the scenes were created using special effects.

HMS Dragon with a Wildcat helicopter flying overhead during an exercise in Cyprus which aims to shape the Future Commando Force — HMS Dragon with a Wildcat helicopter flying overhead during an exercise in Cyprus. The Destroyer appears in the new James Bond film, No Time To Die. Picture: MOD

It is unclear when and where the filming with HMS Dragon took place. However, MOD sources said it was before the global COVID pandemic.

The MOD also confirmed that members of the Armed Forces did not have the opportunity to meet James Bond star Daniel Craig in any of the scenes filmed using British military assets.