RAF fighter jets are on standby to counter intrusions of Chinese spy balloons if they enter UK airspace.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the planes are kept ‘on 24/7 readiness’ adding that the government will do ‘whatever it takes to keep the country safe’.
The admission came amid continued reports of suspected spy balloons entering US airspace, and subsequently being shot down.
Typhoon FGR4s are used by British alert forces, which guard airspace from threats.
They are stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, north east Scotland, and at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.
They have a wingspan of 36ft (11m) – around the same size as a length of a double-decker bus – and can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 at a maximum altitude of 55,000ft.
Inside the fighter jets are a series of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, which are used to police British skies.
They can engage with targets both in the air and on the ground; in flight they can employ infrared-guided Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles, as well as Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
Mr Sunak says he can’t go into detail about national security details but adds he is in ‘constant touch with allies’.
‘I want people to know that we will do whatever it takes to keep the country safe,’ he said.
‘We have something called the quick reaction alert force which involves Typhoon planes, which are kept on 24/7 readiness to police our airspace, which is incredibly important.’
A US fighter jet shot down an ‘unidentified object’ over Lake Huron on Sunday – the fourth incident in eight days.
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