Almost a century after British set up a rudimentary air force in colonial India in 1932, things have come a full circle. Three pilots from the Indian Air Force will now train young pilots in the Royal Air Force in the UK.This was decided after the two sides today agreed to enhance military training engagements following the conclusion of the 19th UK-India Air Staff Talks in New Delhi.Under the agreement, the Indian Air Force will deploy three Qualified Flight Instructors (QFI) to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley in the UK -– the training base for British fast jet pilots. This marks the first time that Indian QFIs will impart fast jet training to British pilots at RAF Valley. The deployment will be initially for a period of two years, the British High Commission in New Delhi said.Indian Air Force instructors will instruct on the BAE Hawk T2 aircraft. The IAF uses the jet for the final-training module of its fighter pilots.During their tenure, the Indian QFIs will remain under IAF command while working for RAF commanders on instructional duties.Air Vice Marshal Ian Townsend, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff of Royal Air Force, said, “Bringing Indian QFIs into UK Military Flying Training Systems deepens our cooperation, enhances interoperability and reinforces our shared commitment to excellence in aircrew training.”Separate from the operational training by the Indian QFIs, three British military academies are hosting Indian officers as instructors from respective services. In January, an Indian Air Force officer was posted as an instructor to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell – the air academy that trains the next generation of RAF officers. The Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth has an officer from the Indian Navy as one of its instructors since May 2024 and an Indian Army officer was deployed to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May 2025 as an instructor.