Indian Air Force Instructors to Train UK Fast-Jet Pilots in Landmark Defence Exchange

• First-ever deployment of three IAF instructors to train UK fast-jet pilots at RAF Valley.

• Two-year posting strengthens structured bilateral military training.

• Indian instructors to teach on Hawk T2 and Texan T1 platforms.

• India now has instructors across all major UK military academies.

• Reflects deepening India–UK strategic defence partnership and interoperability efforts.

  
  

In a significant step forward for defence cooperation between New Delhi and London, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to send three certified flight instructors to the United Kingdom to train British fast-jet pilots. The deployment, to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley, represents the first time Indian instructors will train UK fast-jet crews on British soil and completes India’s instructional presence across all major British military academies.

The announcement followed recent air staff discussions held in New Delhi, after which the British High Commission in India confirmed the development. According to the statement, the initial posting will last two years, marking a new chapter in bilateral military training collaboration.

RAF Valley serves as the principal base for training Britain’s fast-jet pilots. The Indian instructors assigned there will teach on advanced trainer platforms, including the BAE Systems Hawk T2 and the Texan T1. While they will carry out their instructional responsibilities under RAF leadership, the officers will remain under the administrative command of the IAF throughout their tenure.

This move means that Indian military instructors are now present at each of the United Kingdom’s premier defence training institutions. Earlier in January, an IAF officer joined the instructional staff at RAF College Cranwell, which prepares future RAF officers. The Indian Navy has had an officer teaching at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth since May 2024, while the Indian Army has maintained an instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst since the same month. Together, these postings underscore the depth of military-to-military engagement between the two nations.

Speaking about the development, Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, the UK’s Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, emphasized that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to building a durable and forward-looking defence partnership. The collaboration, he noted, lays the groundwork for sustained strategic cooperation.

India and the United Kingdom maintain a broad strategic relationship, with defence ties forming a key pillar. During British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai in October, both sides signed an agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation in military training, further institutionalizing such exchanges.

Operational engagement between the two countries has also intensified in recent years. In 2025, their navies conducted an extensive maritime exercise involving carrier strike groups — described as the largest of its kind between the two forces. This was followed by the joint Army exercise “Ajeya Warrior,” held in Rajasthan, which focused on enhancing interoperability between ground forces.

Last summer, defence ties briefly made headlines when a UK Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet remained in India for several weeks. The aircraft, reportedly delayed by adverse weather and a technical issue, underscored the close logistical and operational coordination between the two militaries.

With Indian instructors now embedded across Britain’s top defence academies, the latest development signals an evolving partnership built not only on joint exercises and agreements, but also on shared training and professional development — a foundation likely to shape cooperation for years to come.