International Pilot Training Deal Brings Foreign Instructors to UK Military Base

United Kingdom – In a landmark development for international pilot training cooperation, two Indian Air Force (IAF) instructors will be deployed to train Royal Air Force (RAF) fast-jet pilots at No. 4 Flying Training School in RAF Valley, Wales. This initiative marks the first time Indian military instructors will directly contribute to RAF training operations within the UK.

• Two Hawk-qualified IAF instructors will be based at RAF Valley for up to three years, supporting the training of UK fast-jet pilots on the BAE Hawk T2 aircraft.

• The instructors' salaries will be covered by the Indian government, while the UK Ministry of Defence will provide accommodation and logistical support.

• No. 4 Flying Training School is a critical component of the RAF’s training pipeline, preparing pilots for frontline aircraft including the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 Lightning II.

• The move is intended to deepen UK-India defence relations and build interoperability between the two air forces through shared instruction, tactics, and knowledge exchange.

• The deployment was announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to India, coinciding with a £350 million UK-India defence deal involving the sale of lightweight multirole missiles to the Indian Army.

• The collaboration supports the RAF’s broader strategy to address instructor shortages and maintain pilot training capacity amid operational demands..

Source: UK & India Government Statements