There are now “serious questions” about whether the country’s combat aircraft fleet could defend the UK in an all-out war.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought the cuts into “sharp focus”, according to Westminster’s Defence Committee.
The cross-party group of MPs warns the fleet is “just too small” to withstand the “levels of attrition” that would take place in major war.
They call on the MoD and RAF to “urgently” increase the force’s size. There is concern about the retirement of Typhoon, Hercules and early-warning aircraft, as well as “persistent and unacceptable delays in the flying training pipeline”.
And a decision to take the C-130J Hercules out of service will have a “particular impact” on Special Forces. Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Committee, said: “The ability to control the skies is critical.
“Since the Cold War, the RAF’s fleet is down to just a third of its previous size. The RAF has prioritised quality over quantity, leaving us with a fleet of combat aircraft that are high-spec and expensive, yet alarmingly low in number.”
The scathing assessment lands just days after Grant Shapps was appointed Defence Secretary. The MPs are worried by the “perverse” decision to scale back an order of “Wedgetail” aircraft from five to three.
These provide radar and command and control services if land-based technology is knocked out.
Witnesses warned the MPs that “three aircraft will not be sufficient to meet the UK’s commitment to Nato and to our sovereign needs”.
Former Armed Forces minister Mark Francois said: “This report highlights a number of weaknesses in the RAF’s ability to fight an air campaign against Russia, were the war in Ukraine to escalate.”
The MPs are also concerned fast-jet training has been held up due to a lack of aircraft, as £50million is spent sending pilots to train abroad.
They are also critical of plans for flight training to be 80 per cent on simulators by 2040. A retired wing commander said there use had “little to do with quality…and everything to do with cutting costs”.
Mr Ellwood said: “Russia’s invasion signalled the beginning of a darker and more dangerous era for Europe. If the MoD refuses to see the writing on the wall and fails to make adequate investment, there are turbulent times ahead.”
The MoD said: “The RAF remains a world-leading defence force and has the necessary capabilities to fulfil Nato and UK commitments.
The committee’s report recognises that the updated Defence Command Paper seeks to tackle the threats we face, now and in the future.”
