People who saw a space-age looking vessel speeding around waterways in the Charleston area last week might have thought their eyes were playing tricks on them, but they weren't.
The Department of Defense's high-speed experimental boat - the M80 Stiletto - was in the area to test electronic equipment linked to SPAWAR, the government-sponsored information-technology outfit that specializes in communication gadgets for the military.
The vessel, made by the M Ship Co., arrived July 19 before heading back Saturday for its home port, the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va.
There are no plans at this time for the Stiletto to return to Charleston anytime soon, either for testing or to eventually be ported here on a long-term basis, said Lonnie Cowart, SPAWAR spokesperson. SPAWAR operates at the Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek.
The 88-foot long, 60-ton Stiletto is part of the new wave of experimental boats being pursued by the Pentagon. It has been tested for a variety of missions, including illegal trafficking in the Caribbean.
According to the Navy's Southern Command, the vessel's hull construction and M-shaped design make it lightweight and easy to maintain. It can go nearly 70 mph in calm seas and operate in shallow waters, according to M Ship's website.
Other capabilities include mine-clearing, special operations and delivering humanitarian aid in the wake of a natural disaster.
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