There at the moment are “serious questions” about whether or not the nation’s fight plane fleet might defend the UK in an all-out warfare.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has introduced the cuts into “sharp focus”, based on Westminster’s Defence Committee.

The cross-party group of MPs warns the fleet is “just too small” to face up to the “levels of attrition” that may happen in main warfare.

They name on the MoD and RAF to “urgently” enhance the drive’s measurement. There is concern in regards to the retirement of Typhoon, Hercules and early-warning plane, in addition to “persistent and unacceptable delays in the flying training pipeline”.

And a choice to take the C-130J Hercules out of service can have a “particular impact” on Special Forces. Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Committee, stated: “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 evaluation lands simply days after Grant Shapps was appointed Defence Secretary. The MPs are anxious by the “perverse” determination to cut back an order of “Wedgetail” plane from 5 to a few.

These present radar and command and management providers if land-based expertise 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 stated: “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 additionally involved fast-jet coaching has been held up because of a scarcity of plane, as £50million is spent sending pilots to coach overseas.

They are additionally vital of plans for flight coaching to be 80 per cent on simulators by 2040. A retired wing commander stated there use had “little to do with quality...and every­thing to do with cutting costs”.

Mr Ellwood stated: “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 stated: “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.”