It will be the cornerstone of the RAF's offensive and defensive capabilities for decades ahead

Bruce George MP

The Eurofighter, the most expensive project in British military history, has been dogged by delays since it was conceived in 1984.

Defence minister Lewis Moonie has admitted to the Commons there had been "slippage" but he is confident the Eurofighter will enter service this summer.

But a senior defence official told the BBC the MoD was resigned to the fact that the project will be delayed for another year.

BBC defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan said that even when the plane was ready, the first Eurofighters would remain in the factory for a further two years for testing.

Jet shortage

There are plans to set up an RAF base in a corner of the factory to allow the MoD to claim that the Eurofighter had entered service, he added.

The main hold up has been production of the fully kitted out aircraft, known as IPA1, as opposed to prototypes already seen at airshows.

IPA1 was supposed to fly last August, but still has not left the ground.

The RAF was supposed to start training in March, with first deliveries in June.

Aviation consultant John Lake said: "That simply is not going to happen."

He says the delays will leave the RAF short of jets as there is little evidence that anyone is making arrangements to cover the expected capability gaps.

But Tim Ripley, of Lancaster University, says there is still the chance that BAE Systems could pull the project back closer to schedule.

Inevitable delays

"It is far easier to recover from these types of issues at this stage.

"Once you go beyond June then the knock-on effects will start to kick in and the bow wave will start spreading throughout the RAF."

Bruce George, chair of Commons defence select committee, insists that despite 42 months delay the programme is not in deep trouble.

"Delays in these complicated processes are inevitable," he said.

"One thing is certain that if it does slip, BAE will have liquidated damages which I am certain will be claimed and will have to be paid.

"I believe they will be operational in 2006."

The MoD said it was disappointed by delays to the flight of IPA1 and was assessing the implications for the rest of the Eurofighter programme.

A spokesman for BAE Systems confirmed some money had not been paid by the MoD but said he did not like the word "withheld".