The British Royal Air Force (RAF) granted access to key assets and personnel to the production of 'No Time to Die' (2021). RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, was used as a backdrop in the film, standing in for a NATO airbase in Norway, where James Bond (Daniel Craig) joins MI6 allies and later boards a C-17 Globemaster aircraft. Meanwhile, for the production, the British Royal Army supplied troops from the Household Cavalry. They offered their time at a pivotal moment in their calendar, just before the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London, England.
The Royal Navy warship seen in 'No Time to Die' (2021) is portrayed by the British Royal Navy vessel HMS Dragon. Previous Royal Navy ships to appear in Bond movies have included HMS Rothesday in 'Thunderball' (1965), HMS Tenby in 'You Only Live Twice' (1967), HMS Fearless in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977) and both HMS Winchester (interiors) and HMS Somerset (exteriors) in 'Tomorrow Never Dies' (1997) portraying three fictional ships - HMS Bedford, HMS Chester and HMS Devonshire. Ironically, in the other 'No' titled Bond movie, 'Dr. No' (1962), the title character's attack vehicle on Crab Key was named the ''Dragon''.
The warship seen in 'No Time to Die' (2021) is portrayed by the British Royal Navy vessel HMS Dragon. The ship filmed its scenes for the film prior to the pandemic in The Solent. A Royal Navy spokesman declared though ''no weapons were fired during the filming'' of the movie indicating that any missiles fired in the film were the result of VFX and CGI. The 152 metre Portsmouth-based ship is a Daring-class Type 45 air-defence destroyer and has a gigantic red dragon emblem on its hull. In actual use, it performs weapons operation, helicopter maintenance, long-range air target searching and long-distance target engagement. Ten of the Dragon's crew attended the Royal World Premiere Charity Benefit of 'No Time to Die' (2021) on 28th September 2021 where images of the ship were shown on big screens over the red carpet and about fifty musicians from the Portsmouth Band of the Royal Marines played at the end of the live cross.
About five days before the world premiere of 'No Time to Die' (2021), the film's James Bond actor Daniel Craig was made an honorary Commander in the British Royal Navy. The rank matches that of James Bond in the novels and movies whilst the filmmakers worked closely with them and the Ministry of Defence in the production of the picture. Commander Craig's appointment as an Honorary Officer was made to reflect his personal support for Her Majesty's Armed Forces and links it with the legacy created through the guise of the famous fictional British secret agent. Commander Craig has stated that he is keen to support personnel with the Royal Navy with a particular interest in service families. Commander Craig said: "I am truly privileged and honoured to be appointed the rank of Honorary Commander in the senior service." The word ''commander'' actually features in a working title of an Ian Fleming Bond novel. That was for the other 'No' titled Bond story - 'Dr. No' - and it was ''Commander Jamaica'' - and it's a popular title amongst fans for being be used one day as a James Bond movie title. 'No Time to Die' (2021) features Jamaica as a setting and filming location and in the film Bond in Jamaica is called Commander by Nomi (Lashana Lynch). As such, there is a little bit of ''Commander Jamaica'' in 'No Time to Die' (2021).