In historic reversal, 3 Indian Air Force instructors to train British pilots in UK
This marks the first time that Indian qualified flight instructors will impart fast jet training to British pilots at Royal Air Force Valley
Almost a century after the British set up a rudimentary air force in colonial India in 1932, things have come a full circle. Three pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF) will now train young pilots in the Royal Air Force in the UK.
This was decided after the two sides on Thursday agreed to enhance military training engagements following the conclusion of the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks in New Delhi.
Under the agreement, the IAF will deploy three qualified flight instructors (QFI) to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley in the UK – the training base for British fast jet pilots. This marks the first time that Indian QFIs will impart fast jet training to British pilots at RAF Valley. The deployment will be initially for a period of two years, the British High Commission in New Delhi said.
The IAF instructors will instruct on the BAE Hawk T2 aircraft. The IAF uses the jet for the final training module of its fighter pilots
During their tenure, the Indian QFIs will remain under IAF command while working for RAF commanders on instructional duties.
Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force, said: “Bringing Indian QFIs into UK Military Flying Training Systems deepens our cooperation, enhances interoperability, and reinforces our shared commitment to excellence in aircrew training.”
Separate from the operational training by the Indian QFIs, three British military academies host Indian officers as instructors from their respective services. In January this year, an Indian Air Force officer was posted as an instructor to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell – the air academy that trains the next generation of RAF officers. The Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, has an officer from the Indian Navy as one of its instructors since May 2024, and an Indian Army officer was deployed to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May 2025 as an instructor.
Commodore Chris Saunders, Royal Navy, Defence Adviser, British High Commission, said: “The forthcoming deployment of Indian Qualified Flying Instructors to the UK represents a significant milestone in our expanding defence relationship, positively building on the mandate of UK-India Vision 2035”.
An agreement on cooperation in military training was signed between the UK and India during PM Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai in October 2025.
In 2025, the UK and India conducted the largest ever maritime exercise involving the Carrier Strike Groups of both navies.
