Western countries have so far stopped short of providing jets or weapons that can strike deep inside Russia.
In response, news agency TASS cited Russia’s embassy to Britain as warning that any delivery of British fighter jets to Ukraine would have serious military and political ramifications.
Any joint venture between a defence manufacturer and Ukraine would likely need British government sign-off, and such a move would further antagonise Moscow, the Telegraph said.
Sunak’s press office at Number 10 Downing Street declined to comment on the report.
The exercise on Tuesday will be headed by the Continental U.S. NORAD Region and aircraft will include F-16 fighter jets from NORAD, MH-65D Dolphin Helicopters from the U.S. Coast, C-12 aircraft from the U.S. Army and Cessna 182T aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol.
Officials said some flights may take place at 2,500 feet, making them visible from the ground, and if weather interferes with operations, they will commence the next day at the same time.
The agency said it conducts routine exercises that include a variety of scenarios, whether it is a hijacking, response to unknown aircraft, or airspace restriction violations, and that all exercises are controlled and planned out.
Operation Noble Eagle, or ONE, is an aerospace warning and control exercise for North America that NORAD will conduct. Falcon Virgo, another routine exercise, supports ONE.
“The Defense of North America is NORAD’s top priority, and NORAD remains on alert around the clock, every day,” Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce said. “It is an honor to serve our citizens.”
NORAD has been identifying and intercepting potential air threats to North America for more than 60 years.
Up until Sunday, the U.S. shot down three objects over North America during the past week. The first object taken down was a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4. The second and third objects are believed to be smaller balloons, which were shot down over Alaska and Canada, respectively.
© 2023, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.