Britain once trained India's air force. Why are IAF pilots now training RAF pilots?
The deployment is part of efforts by India and the UK to deepen military training and defence cooperation.
For more than seven decades, Britain provided military training to India's Air Force during the colonial era. Now, a reversal is taking place as Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are instructing Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots for the first time. The Indian instructors, three in total, have joined the RAF at RAF Valley in Wales, UK, to train young British pilots on the BAE Hawk T2 aircraft.
The deployment, initially set for two years, marks a significant step in deepening military training and defence cooperation between India and the UK. The move is seen as a "historic first in India-UK defence cooperation," according to the IAF. The deployment comes after both countries agreed to expand military training engagements in February.
The instructors will bring valuable experience from India's advanced flying training system to RAF Valley, where it is also used for the final stage of training combat fighter pilots.
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