THE Lancashire-made fighter jets currently deployed in Libya were grounded last year due to a shortage of aircraft, MPs said.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee said five Eurofighter Typhoon pilots were temporarily grounded because a lack of aircraft availability meant they could not do the required flying time.
It said the shortages were also affecting the training programme, with only eight of RAF's 48 Typhoon pilots qualified for ground attack operations – the role it is being used for in Libya.
The RAF originally planned to buy 232 Typhoons but has reduced the number to 160.
By 2019, the fleet number will be 107 as some will have been retired.
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