DEFENCE cuts totalling £1.5 billion are expected to be announced today after Gordon Brown signalled that funds needed to be redirected to the front line in Afghanistan.

The move to rein in or scrap so-called "low-priority" defence projects comes as a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) warns the current defence programme is "unaffordable".

Despite cutbacks reducing the Ministry of Defence's budget deficit by £15 billion, there remains a shortfall of between £6 billion and £36 billion.

The NAO is especially critical of the strategy to delay expensive projects in the short-term, which eventually increases the bill overall. For example, delays to the introduction of the new Astute Class submarines, extending the life of Plymouth-based Trafalgar submarines, will cost an extra £38 million. "Further extensions to the Trafalgar fleet are not considered feasible," the report adds.

The MoD has also saved £194 million by reducing the number of Yeovilton-built Lynx Wildcat helicopters by 23 per cent, from 80 to 62. This has reduced planned flying hours by a third.

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Speaking exclusively to the WMN on his surprise visit to Afghanistan at the weekend, Mr Brown defended his record, both as Chancellor and PM, in ensuring the forces were properly funded. And he boasted that the budget for the conflict would soon top £4.5 billion.

But that increase comes at a cost for the rest of the defence budget. As the WMN revealed yesterday, the PM has already authorised £150 million be "reprioritised" from within the defence budget to deal with the Taliban's roadside bombs. Around 80 per cent of deaths suffered by coalition forces are caused by improvised explosive devices. As well as a new training facility, £10 million will be drawn under "urgent operational requirements" to buy 400 state-of-the-art mine detectors.

Mr Brown told the WMN: "The financial support is both there and guaranteed for Afghanistan. The most important thing is to see the investment that we instructed, in many cases, two years ago.

"We have always tried to give our troops the equipment they need. As circumstances change, then we need to order new equipment and new vehicles to deal with new concerns."

He added it was "very important" to get more engineers into Afghanistan to diffuse the IEDs and improve surveillance.

Today, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is expected to make a statement to Parliament on the new money for Afghanistan – and what will be cut in the MoD budget to pay for it. According to reports, it could include cuts to the fleet of Harrier and Tornado fighter jets and bringing forward the phasing out of the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft.

Thousands of civil servants and serving personnel could also be slashed to reduce the wage bill. However, Mr Ainsworth is thought to be planning to announce that up to 20 new Chinook helicopters could be in service earlier than expected.

Both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy will be hit with cuts.

An MoD spokesman said: "This is speculation as no final decisions have been made. We routinely review our spending to ensure Afghanistan remains the top priority. Although some hard decisions will have to be made, no measures will affect operations."