In a historic development for UK-India defence collaboration, Indian Air Force pilots will begin training Royal Air Force cadets on Hawk T2 jets starting in October 2026. This unprecedented agreement, announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mumbai with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, represents a major milestone in bilateral military cooperation. Under the deal, Indian instructors, regarded as some of the IAF’s most skilled aviators, will teach British cadets at RAF Valley in North Wales, providing crucial support amid persistent RAF pilot shortages.
The training programme will see at least two Indian aviators stationed at RAF Valley for over three years. However, before taking on their instructional roles, these instructors must complete a year-long familiarisation course on the Hawk T2 jets to adapt to British operational procedures. Although already highly experienced, the instructors will need to master the specifics of RAF aircraft systems and protocols to effectively teach RAF cadets. Once fully trained, they will be integrated into the No. 4 Flying Training School, a key component of the RAF’s pilot training pipeline.
Experts have noted both the benefits and the irony of the arrangement. While Indian instructors are expected to significantly enhance pilot training quality, some commentators have expressed concern over the RAF’s growing dependence on foreign expertise. A former RAF officer highlighted the paradox, stating, “The Indians are perfect, and I’m sure they’ll make a valuable contribution to our training, but, ironically, we trained the world to fly, and now we can’t even train our own these days.”
The initiative reflects a broader trend within the RAF to address gaps in domestic training capacity through international cooperation. Recent years have seen similar measures, including sending RAF pilots to Italy and the United States for advanced training due to insufficient available Hawk T2 jets and qualified instructors in the UK. Under the new arrangement, the UK Ministry of Defence will provide accommodation for the Indian instructors, while their salaries will remain the responsibility of the Indian government, ensuring seamless integration into the RAF training ecosystem.
This move also underscores the strengthening defence ties between the two nations, which have already included joint exercises and the UK-led Carrier Strike Group’s successful engagement with Indian naval forces. The deployment of Indian instructors to RAF Valley not only addresses immediate training shortfalls but also signals a growing strategic partnership, highlighting the increasing global role of India’s defence expertise.
