Boris Johnson has today vowed to maintain the size of the UK's military after claims that defence chiefs would slash army numbers and lend a new aircraft carrier to the US.

'We will not be cutting our armed forces in any form. We will be maintaining the size of our armed services,' Mr Johnson said as he unveiled the Tory manifesto in Telford.

A report in The Sunday Times had claimed that the Tories were scrapping a commitment to 'maintain the overall size of the armed forces' made two years ago by Theresa May.

It said that high-ranking officers are considering an army between 60,000 and 65,000, shrinking it to the smallest force in centuries.

'We will not be cutting our armed forces in any form. We will be maintaining the size of our armed services,' Mr Johnson said today as he unveiled the Tory manifesto in Telford

The army numbered 3.1million at the end of World War Two and then shrank to 159,000 in 1980 and was at 102,120 in 2003, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Top military officers are considering leasing one of the Royal Navy's flagship new aircraft carriers to the Americans, sourced told The Times

Despite a 2015 manifesto pledge the army would maintain at least 82,000 soldiers, it has already shrunk to 73,000.

Top naval officers are understood to be furious that army bosses are looking at leasing one of their new aircraft carriers to the Americans. In response they are urging the RAF should see their numbers cut.

One source told The Times: 'The army hates the aircraft carriers, which they have always seen as white elephants, but the Americans love them. They're cutting-edge because they can operate with far fewer crew than the US carriers.

'The army can't recruit or retain the people it needs. Both the army and the navy think that the job of the RAF will soon be done by drones.'

The army numbered 3.1million at the end of World War Two and then shrank to 159,000 in 1980 and was at 102,120 in 2003, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Soldiers in action as the British Army demonstrate the latest and future technology used on operations across the globe on Salisbury plain training area on October 29, 2019. The army is looking to bring its numbers down to somewhere between 60,000 and 65,000 defence sources told The Sunday Times

Defence sources told the Times, the direction and scope of the cuts would be down in large part to who takes the helm when General Sir Nick Carter steps down as the chief of defence staff next year.

Admiral Tony Radakin, the first sea lord, is most likely to cut back the army's numbers, while Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, chief of the general staff, would be more likely to flog the carriers.

But Defence Secretary Ben Wallace tweeted this morning: 'For the record: there are no plans to shrink the Army. In fact my direction to the Army has been to improve recruiting and retention levels. In the Manifesto there will be new policies to help. This story is nonsense ⁦.'

He added in a later tweet: 'Total rubbish in the ST (The Sunday Times). There are however plans to increase Army recruiting levels.'

Mr Johnson later added at the manifesto launch: 'Actually we're going to be increasing our funding by 0.5 percent above inflation every year of this Parliament because we believe in our armed services.

'I mean I've travelled around the world and they are loved. The armed services of the UK are perhaps the most admired export that this country has in some parts of the world and they do a fantastic amount of good.'

At the White-hall spending review earlier this year Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed to pump £2.2billion in to the UK military. Pictured with Ben Wallace during a visit to Salisbury plain training area on Thursday, September 19

The paper had claimed that Mr Wallace had asked the top brass to 'cut their cloth' according to a tight budget.

He has secured another £2.2billion for the military but said he wants better kit rather than an expanded fighting force.

In September, Mr Wallace revealed the money would go towards 'dilapidated not fit for purpose accommodation.'