India-UK Defence Ties: The defence wing of the British High Commission in India shared big news on Thursday. It called it a “major milestone” in the friendship between the two countries. For the first time ever instructors from the Indian Air Force will train pilots of the Royal Air Force.
In a post on X, the defence section wrote, “A major milestone in UK-India defence cooperation. Indian Air Force instructors will train Royal Air Force pilots for the first time ever.”
This step came after the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks were held in New Delhi. After the meeting, both sides agreed that they want to grow their military training work together. The British High Commission shared this in a press note.
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First-Time Fast Jet Training in the UK
As per the British side, “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.”
It also said, “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.
The base where they will go is RAF Valley. This is where British fast jet pilots are trained. News agency ANI reported that the Indian instructors will teach on the BAE Systems Hawk T2 and the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft.
Even though they will work in the UK, the Indian instructors will still remain under IAF command. They will carry out teaching duties for RAF officers during their stay.
In January this year, an Indian Air Force officer was sent as an instructor to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. This academy trains new RAF officers. The British readout, quoted by Press Trust of India, said that now all three British military academies have Indian officers serving as instructors from their services.
A Big Step in Defence Ties
Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, who is Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, spoke about the deal. Marshal 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.”
He also 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,” he said.
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He further 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, who serves as Defence Adviser at the British High Commission, also shared his thoughts. Saunders 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.”
He added “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.”
Usually senior officers with a two-star rank or above attend these meetings to talk about military cooperation. The last round was held in London in 2025.
The press note also mentioned that during the visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Mumbai in October 2025 and both sides signed an agreement on military training cooperation.
The 2 air forces have also trained together before. In 2023, the Indian Air Force joined the UK’s big air exercise Exercise Cobra Warrior for the first time. Then in 2024, the Royal Air Force took part in the IAF’s first multi country air combat exercise called Exercise Tarang Shakti.
