The defence section of the British High Commission in India on Thursday announced a “major milestone” in bilateral ties, saying that Indian Air Force instructors will train pilots of the Royal Air Force for
the first time.
In a post on X, the defence section mentioned, “A major milestone in UK-India defence cooperation. Indian Air Force instructors will train Royal Air Force pilots for the first time ever.”
The development follows the conclusion of the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks held in New Delhi, where both sides agreed to further enhance military training engagements, according to a press release issued by the British High Commission.
FIRST-TIME FAST JET TRAINING DEPLOYMENT
According to a British readout, “Under the latest agreement, the Indian Air Force 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,” it said.
According to news agency ANI, the Indian Air Force instructors will deploy to RAF Valley to instruct on the BAE Hawk T2 or Texan T1 aircraft.
During their tenure, the Indian QFIs will remain under IAF command while performing instructional duties for RAF commanders.
The development closely follows the first-time deployment in January this year of an Indian Air Force officer as an instructor to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, the air academy that trains the next generation of RAF officers.
The British readout, as cited by PTI, noted that the new initiative marked all three British military academies now hosting Indian officers as instructors from their respective services.
‘SIGNIFICANT STEP’ IN DEFENCE TIES
Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, said, “The signing of this Letter of Agreement is a significant step in strengthening the longstanding relationship between the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force.”
“Bringing Indian QFIs into UK Military Flying Training Systems deepens our cooperation, enhances interoperability and reinforces our shared commitment to excellence in aircrew training,” he said.
He added, “Together, we are investing in the foundation of a long-term collaboration and shaping a partnership that is both enduring and strategic in its outlook.”
Commodore Chris Saunders MBE, Royal Navy, Defence Adviser at the British High Commission, said, “The forthcoming deployment of Indian Qualified Flying Instructors to the UK represents another significant milestone in our expanding defence relationship, positively building on the mandate of UK-India Vision 2035.”
“It reinforces the mutual trust and shared experience that underpins our training cooperation and exemplifies the increasingly sophisticated levels of interoperability we are building together across our services,” he said.
He further stated, “From the presence of Indian training officers instructing in each of the UK’s three officer training academies, to this next step of Indian instructors integrated into our professional flying training squadrons, we continue to build depth, understanding and cooperation at every level of the UK-India defence relationship.”
BROADER MILITARY ENGAGEMENT
ANI reported that the Air Staff Talks are part of annual engagements, with both sides typically represented by a two-star officer or higher to discuss areas of military collaboration.
The previous edition of the staff talks was held in London in 2025.
The press release, as cited by ANI, also said that an agreement on military training cooperation was signed between the UK and India during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai in October 2025.
In 2023, the Indian Air Force participated in the UK’s multi-lateral air exercise Cobra Warrior for the first time, and in 2024, the Royal Air Force was among the participants in the IAF’s first multi-lateral air combat exercise, Tarang Shakti.
