The Royal Navy reportedly wants to ask American squadrons to fly off its new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth II, following delays in the introduction of Britain's new F35B fighters.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources said that the US Marine Corps will be offered the use of the ship for flight operations, according to BBC Newsnight.

Currently the UK plans to have its first F35 squadron operational by 2018, and one ready for service at sea by 2021. Even if this is achieved, there will be several years where the Queen Elizabeth is ready but British squadrons are not.

For the past year defence analysts had been expecting the MoD to order 14 of the new jets, but persistent doubts about the F35's enormously complex software - and an engine fire this summer - have caused successive delays.

When the British buy was announced last month, it was for just four of the planes. The MoD says that this order will allow trials to start from the Queen Elizabeth on time with, "UK F35Bs, flown by UK pilots."

But the slowdown in the expected purchasing rate is bound to delay the aircraft's entry into service, say defence insiders. The MoD told Newsnight that it is "not aware" of any further delay to the timetable for the first operational squadron.

Even if the timetable is kept, senior naval officers are nervous that a gap in capability from 2018 to 2021, coming at a time when the defence budget will come under pressure after the next general election, could damage their chances of keeping two new carriers and remaining a 'first division naval power.' The report suggested decisions relating to the new ships, including their communications fit, are now on hold until next year's Strategic Defence and Security Review.