IAF to Train British Pilots | 13 Feb 2026

Source: IE 

Indian Air Force instructors will train British pilots at the Royal Air Force(RAF) Valley, for the first time, following the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks as part of expanding bilateral military training engagements. 

• Deployment: Three Indian Air Force Qualified Flight Instructors will be posted at RAF Valley, UK’s training base, for a two-year tenure to train British fast-jet pilots on Hawk T2 and Texan T1 aircraft. 
  • This follows the first-ever deployment earlier this year of an Indian Air Force officer as an instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, which trains future RAF officers. 
• Broader Defence Engagement: Indian officers are now serving as instructors across all three UK military academies: Dartmouth (Navy), Sandhurst (Army), and Cranwell/RAF training establishments (Air Force). 
• Strategic Significance: The initiative enhances interoperability, mutual trust, and long-term defence partnership under the UK-India Vision 2035 framework. 
• Military Exercises:  
  • Cobra Warrior 
  • Ajeya Warrior 
  • Tarang Shakti