The UK has plans to borrow US warplanes to fly from the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers due to defence cuts.

The Royal Navy’s Harrier jump jets are due to be retired in 2018 leaving the new carriers, due to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively, with no aircraft, according to the Daily Mail.

The navy has plans to invite the US Marines to fly from the carriers in joint operations and is also examining the potential of leasing aircraft from the US.

The treasury budget for the carriers covers only the costs of building carriers.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the UK would be forced to rely on US support in future conflicts.

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The navy currently has 45 Harriers, which would be replaced by a variant of the US joint strike fighter.