India To Train Royal Air Force
A major milestone in UK-India defence cooperation. Indian Air Force instructors will train Royal Air Force pilots for the first time ever. Three Indian Qualified Flying Instructors will teach the next generation of RAF fast jet pilots on Hawk T2 and Texan T1 aircraft. They will be deployed to RAF Valley on a two-year deployment.
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. This marked all three British military academies now hosting Indian officers as instructors from respective services.
Bringing Indian QFIs into UK Military Flying Training Systems deepens our cooperation, enhances interoperability, and reinforces our shared commitment to excellence in aircrew training.
The agreement was signed at the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks in New Delhi today. It builds on the military training cooperation deal signed during PM Starmer’s visit to Mumbai last October.
Further information:
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.
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 working for RAF commanders on instructional duties.
The Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth has an officer from the Indian Navy as one of its instructors since May 2024. This development was followed by the deployment of an Indian Army officer to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May 2025 as an instructor.
In 2025, the UK and India conducted the largest ever maritime exercise involving the Carrier Strike Groups of both the navies. This was closely followed by joint army exercise Ajeya Warrior in Rajasthan.
In 2023, the Indian Air Force participated in the UK’s multi-lateral air exercise Cobra Warrior for the first time. In 2024, the Royal Air Force was amongst the participants for IAF’s first multi-lateral air combat exercise Tarang Shakti.
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