THE RAF would struggle to defend the UK in a war due to cuts, a damning report warns.
An “alarmingly” low number of planes leaves us “dangerously” exposed.
Fleet numbers have fallen from 500 in 1973 to 169 this year — smaller than France, Germany and Italy.
MPs on the defence select committee say: “There are serious questions as to whether the diminished combat air fleet can deter and defend against enemy aggression.”
Chairman Tobias Ellwood added: “The RAF has prioritised quality at the expense of quantity, leaving us with a fleet of aircraft that are high-spec and expensive, yet alarmingly low in number.
“The Ukraine invasion signalled the beginning of a darker and more dangerous era for Europe.
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"Despite this, the MoD has failed to reverse any of its 2021 cuts to our aviation capabilities.”
MPs slammed the early retirement of the C-130J Hercules transport fleet which leaves forces dependent on the unreliable Atlas.
They blasted the “perverse” decision to reduce the Wedgetail E-7 early-warning aircraft from five to three, and said the RAF had taken their “eye off the ball” on pilot training.
The MoD insisted: “The RAF remains a world-leading defence force and has the necessary capabilities to fulfil Nato and UK commitments.”
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