Using underwater drones, warships and inflatable vessels, the US Navy is carrying out an extensive operation to gather all of the pieces of the massive Chinese spy balloon a US fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Photo / AP

In the newest images released by the US Navy on Tuesday, sailors from Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group 2 are seen leaning over a rigid hull inflatable boat and pulling in broad swaths of the balloon’s white outer fabric and shell structure.

The head of US Northern Command, General Glen VanHerck, said Monday the teams were taking precautions to safeguard against the chance any part of the balloon was rigged with explosives.

The sailors at work recovering balloon debris off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Photo / AP

The balloon was an estimated 60m tall and was carrying a long sensor package underneath, which VanHerck estimated was the size of a small regional jet.

The US Navy is also using ships to map and scan the sea floor for all remaining parts of the balloon, so US analysts can get a full picture of what types of sensors the Chinese were using and to better understand how the balloon was able to manoeuvre.

The balloon debris is scattered in waters that are about 15m deep, but stretch across an area 15 football fields long and 15 football fields across, VanHerck said.