LONDON: In a symbolic turn of history, two senior Indian Air Force (IAF) instructors will soon be training Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilots in the United Kingdom — marking the first time Indian aviators will instruct their British counterparts.
The IAF officers will be stationed at No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley on Anglesey island, off the northwest coast of Wales, where the UK’s next generation of fighter pilots are trained on the BAE Hawk TMk2 aircraft. Their assignment is expected to begin no earlier than October 2026, following a familiarisation and training period in the UK that could last up to a year, a senior RAF official told TOI.
The instructors, both Hawk-qualified flying trainers, will serve in the UK for up to three years. While their salaries will be paid by India, the UK Ministry of Defence will provide housing and logistical support. The RAF Valley programme is where pilots are prepared to move on to frontline combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II.
The deployment stems from a broader defence cooperation initiative between New Delhi and London. The agreement was announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai last week, when a £350 million defence deal was signed for the supply of UK-made lightweight multirole missiles to the Indian Army.
An RAF source described the move as a “new approach” to deepening ties with the IAF, supporting wider UK military and political objectives. “Having Qualified Flying Instructors from the IAF within the UK training system provides multiple defence engagement benefits,” the source said. “It enhances interoperability, builds mutual trust, and facilitates an exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures.”
The World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft ranks India’s air force as the third strongest globally, after the US and Russia — ahead of the UK, which stands eighth.
Officials from both sides view the collaboration as emblematic of a maturing partnership. In a striking reversal of colonial-era roles, Indian pilots — once trained by the British — will now be mentoring RAF trainees, underscoring India’s growing global stature in defence and aviation excellence.
