Indian Air Force (IAF) instructors to train British pilots at Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley for first time

Key facts

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will deploy three Qualified Flight Instructors (QFI) to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley under an agreement reached at the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks in New Delhi.
• The deployment marks the first time Indian QFIs will impart fast jet training to British pilots at RAF Valley and will initially last for two years.
• IAF instructors will instruct on the BAE Hawk T2 or Texan T1 aircraft while remaining under IAF command and working for RAF commanders on instructional duties.
• An agreement on cooperation in military training was signed between the UK and India during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai in October 2025.
• The development follows the maiden deployment in January 2026 of an IAF officer as an instructor to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.
• Indian officers now serve as instructors at all three British military academies: Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth (Indian Navy officer since May 2024), Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Indian Army officer since May 2025), and Royal Air Force College Cranwell (IAF officer since January 2026).