The Home Office has hired two passenger aircrafts equipped with radar, hi-tech cameras and sensors to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Channel migrant crossings.
The £34million investment will deploy two De Havilland Dash 8 aircraft to help prevent illegal landings, intercept boats and gather intelligence on people smuggling operations.
One aircraft is already operational and has proven valuable in supporting prosecutions against people smugglers.
The surveillance operation aims to prevent deaths at sea and monitor migrant movements across the Channel.
The Home Office has hired two passenger aircraft equipped with radar, hi-tech cameras and sensors to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Channel migrant crossings
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When not monitoring migrant activity, the aircraft will support the UK’s Joint Maritime Security Centre, Ministry of Defence and Coastguard in protecting sea borders and intercepting other smuggling operations.
The single aircraft currently operates from RAF Lydd in Kent, providing eight hours of coverage before pilots must return to base for rest and refuelling.
A second aircraft is expected to join the fleet next spring, enabling the full 4,000 hours of annual air surveillance needed.
This will allow 24/7 coverage during the approximately 200 days per year when weather conditions are suitable for small boat crossings.
The De Havilland plane currently in service has already been involved in operations beyond migrant surveillance, including work with the National Crime Agency to intercept drug-smuggling vessels.
The aircraft, known as Phoenix, operates as a civilian version of the RAF’s former Nimrod maritime patrol planes.
Canadian company PAL Aerospace provides the planes and pilots for the operation.
A team of six surveillance and intelligence experts operate the sophisticated camera, sensor and security equipment onboard, working under the small boats operational command led by Major General Duncan Capps.
The planes are part of a broader surveillance fleet that includes fixed-wing drones capable of 60mph speeds at hundreds of metres altitude.
The entire operation utilises machine learning and artificial intelligence to coordinate vessels and aircraft for optimal interception of Channel crossings.
All surveillance assets are networked together to ensure commanders can deploy the right resources at the right time.
The surveillance operation has proven highly effective, with officials reporting that no migrants have reached the UK undetected by small boat since the first De Havilland began operations.
No deaths have occurred in British waters among the 70 fatalities recorded this year.
More than 33,000 migrants have been intercepted crossing the Channel in 2023, marking a 20 per cent increase from the previous year but remaining below 2022’s record figures.
The operation forms part of the small boats operational command, established under a £500 million agreement between Rishi Sunak and President Emmanuel Macron.