The SNP have accused the Ministry of Defence of a "shambles" after it emerged that a long-delayed collision warning system finally fitted to a handful of aircraft requires modifications.
Earlier this month RAF regulators warned that without the technology military planes were risking a mid-air crash with passenger jets.
Last week defence bosses admitted that eight of the RAF's 100 Tornado aircraft had been fitted with the systems.
But in a parliamentary written answer defence ministers admitted that they needed more work.
Angus Robertson, the SNP's defence spokesman, said: "The MoD has confirmed an utter shambles with safety systems being installed on the jets even though they do not work properly.
"Only last week the MoD revealed in a question to me that only 8 of 100 jets had this vital safety system installed.
"But at that time the MoD avoided saying that they didn't work.
"It is like installing a smoke alarm but not bothering to put in the battery.
"The situation is totally unacceptable."
He added: "The programme is clearly in chaos - over twenty years after Ministers recommended that these systems would save lives they remain largely uninstalled.
"To make matters worse the MoD have revealed that a collision warning system for the Typhoon remains in the concept phase with absolutely no timetable for when or even what system will be put in it.
"It is clear that the MoD has a cavalier approach to safety which has resulted in decades of dither and delay."
An official report found the lack of such technology on Tornado aircraft was a key factor in a mid-air collision between two jets over the Moray Firth in July 2012 which left three RAF personnel dead.
In the parliamentary answer, defence minister Philip Dunne said: "Trials in the Tornado GR4 aircraft have revealed that modifications are required to existing aircraft hardware and software in order to ensure compatibility with the Honeywell Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System.
"Work is continuing to resolve these issues and once further trials and testing has been completed we will be in a better position to determine when the full capability will be available."
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