The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has formed Number 6 Squadron, the first Typhoon fighter squadron in Scotland, based at Royal Air Force Leuchars.

Number 6 Squadron will be the first of three Typhoon squadrons planned to be based at RAF Leuchars.

The squadron, which will ultimately include 200 crew, will continue to build up and train over the next few months.

It will provide the quick reaction alert force, which is set to form in March 2011, with aircraft and crews on high alert to scramble and intercept unidentified aircraft approaching UK airspace.

The Typhoon is the RAF’s advanced multirole combat aircraft, which entered operational service in 2007.