Britain forced to borrow U.S. jets to fly from their NEW aircraft carriers as cutbacks bite

Britain will be forced to borrow U.S. warplanes to fly from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers because of defence cuts, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The Navy's Harrier Jump Jets - the aircraft that won renown in the Falklands conflict - are to be retired early leaving the two new carriers with no aircraft when they come into service.

Under the plans, the U.S. Marines would be invited to fly from the British carriers in joint operations and the Navy is also examining the prospect of leasing aircraft from the Americans.

Major costs savings are necessary because the Treasury budget for the carriers only covers the costs of building an empty shell - leaving no money for the aircraft to fly from them.

A senior military source said: 'The U.S. Marines have the aircraft. Their aircraft would fly from the British carriers. Or we could borrow some from them. 

'The Treasury are happy to pay for the carriers but there's an issue over the cost of the aircraft.'

The carriers are due to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively and the remaining Harriers, famous for their ability to take off and land vertically, are currently due to be retired in 2018.

But bringing that date forward, which would save more than £1billion and could happen as early as the end of next year, would leave the Navy with a capability gap that would have to be filled by the Americans before Joint Strike Fighter aircraft become available in 2018.

Rather than 'salami slice' kit from every area, Defence Secretary Liam Fox has decided to give up major capabilities that let Britain fight wars alone, and rely on American support in future conflicts instead.

The RAF is set to abandon its 'spy in the sky' aerial surveillance planes because the U.S. can provide the intelligence material instead. That is likely to mean the cancellation of new Nimrod aircraft.

In order to pay for the new aircraft carriers, which will cost a total of £5.2billion, the Navy is expected to have to sacrifice its amphibious landing capability.

The source added: 'It comes down to a choice between carrier strike capability and amphibious landing - and they're not going to give up the carriers.'

That means the Royal Marines and the Army would have to rely on American assault ships if they wanted to launch a seaborne invasion like the Falklands in future.

'There are going to be some very painful decisions,' the source said.

'But the plan is to sacrifice some capabilities so that we can keep the kit where we really need it.'

Chancellor George Osborne has also asked the Ministry of Defence to find budget savings of between 10 and 20 per cent.

One carrier may be axed to save money but Navy chiefs would rather fight for them both. 

But to pay for them, the second may be downgraded to carry helicopters rather than jets. Ministers are also examining whether they can share some costs with the French navy.

Read more: Aviation News http://www.dailymail.co.uk/