In a landmark move highlighting India’s growing role in global defence collaboration, Royal Air Force (RAF) cadets will soon be trained by Indian Air Force (IAF) instructors under a first-of-its-kind training agreement between New Delhi and London.
According to a Daily Express UK report, the “unprecedented’’ collaboration will see Indian “top guns’’ instructing British pilots to fly Hawk T2 fast jets commencing from October 2026, marking a milestone in the two nations’ expanding military ties.
The move was announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India’s dynamism and the UK’s expertise combine to create a unique strategy. Our partnership is trustworthy, talent and technology-driven.’’
India-UK joint military exercises
The arrangements follow a series of joint military exercises and the UK-led Carrier Strike Group’s Indo-Pacific deployment, during which the British Navy conducted extensive operations with the Indian Armed Forces.
The RAF has been facing a shortage of trained pilots because of a flawed diversity recruitment overhaul and technical issues related to Hawk T2b jets. Former RAF pilot Tim Davies termed the Indian instructors as “an asset’’ to the training programme. He also pointed out that it could take time for them to become familiar with British aircraft and operational systems.
A UK defence source told the news outlet that this move is about strengthening diplomatic ties rather than being driven by shortages of manpower.
India-UK defence deal
India and the UK have recently announced a set of new initiatives to boost defence ties. This includes a government-to-government deal worth $468 million for the supply of lightweight multirole missile (LMM) systems to enhance India’s air defence capabilities, as reported by PTI. These measures were announced after conducting wide talks between Prime Minister Modi and British Prime Minister Starmer. PM Modi, in his remarks, also highlighted the growing defence ties between the two nations.
