Just to put the F3 into perspective. Even UK Q is questionable. The biggest air threat to the UK is a hijacked airliner as per Sept 11. However, just how will the F3 ever get up to intercept and V ID the A330 or 737 in the cruise at FL330 or above?
I have heard that a nimrod returning from a trip up North (back in the days when there were serviceable ones) was to be intercepted by the Q jet which was launched on the MR2's arrival at the UK FIR boundary. It eventually managed the intercept as the nimrod was descending to Kinloss passing through F190 some 40 mins later. Then again I guess the only city under threat was Aberdeen!!
Wouldn't give the powers that be too much time to make the decision to shoot!! However, I wouldn't expect them to even make a decision.
