text: By Amy Wilson Published: 5:46PM BST 31 Jul 2009
  
  A Eurofighter Typhoon jet rolls on the taxiway at the Swiss Army Airbase in Emmen.. Photo: REUTERS/MICHAEL BUHOLZER
  
  Under an agreement made with its partner nations, Germany, Spain and Italy, in 1998, Britain has another 48 Typhoons to buy, but Quentin Davies, defence equipment minister yesterday said there is "no further commitment".
  
  "This is really tranche three," Mr Davies said. "I don't exclude the possibility that we will buy more aircraft in the future, but there is no present intent, nor any expectation from our partners nor any obligation. We have signed for the totality of our available spending, which is now committed."
  
  The end of the programme would be a blow to defence company BAE Systems and engine-maker Rolls-Royce, which will make £2bn and more than £300m respectively from the 40 planes committed to yesterday.
  
  The European partners building the aircraft agreed a €9bn (£7.7bn) contract to build 40 aircraft for the UK, 31 for Germany, 21 for Italy and 20 for Spain. The contract was agreed after BAE and its industrial partners EADS and Finmeccanica offered a cheaper maintenance and support deal for the life of the planes.
  
  That contract will support 5,000 jobs at BAE in Britain at the height of production. Some 4,000 posts at engine-maker Rolls-Royce and its suppliers and a further 16,000 jobs across the UK aerospace industry also hinge on Eurofighter.
  
  But since Britain signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany, Italy and Spain to buy 232 Eurofighters in 1998, the Ministry of Defence's priorities have changed. The conflict on the ground in Afghanistan is escalating and the Government has come under fire for failing to provide the necessary kit to soldiers serving there, particularly an adequate number of helicopters. The MoD's finances are expected to come under further pressure as the Government and its successor try to control the debts the country has built up as a result of the financial crisis.
  
  It is now understood that no decision will be made on the remaining 48 Typhoons until after a strategic defence review has been carried out. The first detailed review for 10 years was announced earlier this month. A Green Paper is due in early 2010 but the review would not come until after a general election.
  
  BAE said on Thursday activity in its fighter plane business would help to offset the drop-off in orders for armoured vehicles for the US military as it scales back in Iraq.
  
  The company is making Typhoons for Saudi Arabia and hopes to win more export orders.
  
  BAE's shares fell 5 to 307p.
summary: Britain has signed up to buy another 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes but 
    cast doubt on the future of the programme by saying it was unlikely to need 
    any more.