Labour cuts to the defence budget could see the end of the UK's 'Tempest' fighter jet project (Image: Getty)

       The futuristic stealth jet being developed by the UK to bring the RAF's Eurofighter fleet into the 21st century could be scrapped, unless Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government reverses a huge ￡160 million cut to the project, as well as other cuts likely in an upcoming defence review. Critics stunned by the move said it " sends entirely the wrong message to our adversaries."

       Spending on the 'Tempest' stealth fighter jet project has fallen by over 10 per cent this year, putting the important joint UK-Italy-Japan defence deal in jeopardy. Called the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), it was agreed in 2018 and would see the alliance develop a new plane to replace the RAF's aging fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon.

       Currently, one of the most in-demand fighter jet systems in the world is the futuristic US-made Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jet, which is capable of reaching speeds up to 1200mph, vertical takeoff, and carrying a wide variety of payloads, including ballistic missiles. But with UK and European-made military jets like the Eurofighter now reaching around 30 years in age, Britain faces falling further behind militarily at a time of great global peril.

       Labour's Defence Secretary Luke Pollard admitted the massive funding shortfall under questioning from Conservative James Cartlidge. He wrote: “At the start of this financial year, it was expected that the Ministry of Defence would spend up to ￡1.46 billion.

       “The forecast was reduced to ￡1.3 billion due to revised estimates of programme activity from industry throughout the year.”

       The Eurofighter Typhoon is an impressive fighter jet, but has fallen behind technologically (Image: Getty)

       Britain once led the world in the development of military aviation, building up the industrial capability to pump out 131,000 planes to fight back the Luftwaffe during World War 2. The country's genius engineers also paved the way for the modern fighter jet, developing the Allies' first fighter, the Gloster Meteor - but without increased spending, this history could dwindle further into the past.

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       But this latest step in the UK's contribution to the history of aviation appears to hinge on the new Labour government's upcoming defence spending review, which Mr Pollard revealed in July sparking fears that the long-term project would be suddenly scrapped. With unease in Japan and Italy, the Telegraph reports Starmer was forced to insist that the Tempest project was "a really important programme."

       With Labour's Chancellor Rachel Reeves searching for pennies down the backs of every department's proverbial settee, it is not likely that the UK will meet its commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030 and it remains unclear where the ￡1.46 billion in annual funding for the Tempest project will be found.

       Shadow Defence Secretary Cartlidge said: “With the threats we face – from Russia’s continued aggression, to Iran and its proxies in the Middle East – we should be urgently boosting defence spending, not cutting it."

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       He continued: “Cutting a key capability like GCAP is bad for jobs and businesses around the UK and sends entirely the wrong message to our adversaries.

       “The Government needs to urgently avoid further cuts by setting a clear path to 2.5 per cent in the Budget later this month.”

       An MoD spokesman said: “These claims are false – the revised forecast was the result of joint MoD-Industry planning. Positive progress continues developing a future fighter jet, due to take to the skies by 2035.

       “The UK has invested over ￡2 billion already in the Future Combat Air System programme and the associated R&D programme.”