The US navy utilized underwater drones, destroyers, and inflatable vehicles to collect the components of the Chinese spy balloon that a US fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

The most recent photographs provided by the Navy on Tuesday depict sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 reaching over a rigid hull inflatable boat and dragging in portions of the balloon's white exterior fabric and shell construction.

General Glen VanHerck, the head of the US Northern Command, stated that the teams were safeguarding against the possibility that any portion of the balloon was wired with explosives.

Mr VanHerck calculated that the lengthy sensor package carried beneath the balloon was the size of a small jet. The balloon was around 60 metres (200 feet) in height.

The navy is also using ships to map and scan the sea floor for any residual pieces of the balloon so that US analysts can understand the types of sensors the Chinese were employing and how the balloon was able to manoeuvre.

Mr VanHerck stated that the balloon debris is dispersed in waters around 50 feet (15 metres) deep yet covering a vast region.