India steps in to help train RAF pilots as UK tackles instructor shortage
October 17, 2025
The Royal Air Force (RAF) will begin using Indian flight instructors to help train its next generation of pilots, a move that reflects both the RAF’s ongoing instructor shortage and the growing defence partnership between the UK and India.
It is believed to be the first time since World War II that Indian pilots will train RAF crews. The arrangement comes as many air forces worldwide face pilot shortages and training bottlenecks.
RAF faces instructor shortage and Hawk T2 reliability issues
The RAF has struggled to maintain a full complement of qualified instructors, partly due to ongoing technical problems with its BAE Systems Hawk T2 advanced jet trainer. Issues with the aircraft have forced the RAF to send some student pilots overseas for training.
The Hawk T2, based at RAF Valley, has been plagued by engine issues that have limited available flying hours. The aircraft is also seen as increasingly outdated, and the RAF is still evaluating options for a replacement. India, by contrast, operates its own Hawk fleet, licence-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), giving its instructors relevant experience with the type.
RAF cuts pilot training time as part of recovery plan
To speed up pilot progression, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reduced the fast-jet pilot training timeline from 248 weeks in 2022 to 187 weeks. The goal is to clear the backlog of trainees awaiting conversion to frontline aircraft.
The MoD said in a statement, “The RAF currently has sufficient numbers of pilots and aircrew available for the front line.” It added that the inclusion of Indian instructors is “not related to previous issues” within the UK flying training system, but part of a broader effort to “improve international relations.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the instructor plan as part of a wider UK–India defence agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
The partnership builds on recent cooperation between the two nations’ naval forces. In October 2025, the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, conducted wargames with India’s INS Vikrant as part of Operation Highmast, an eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment.
Sailing strong together 🇬🇧🤝🇮🇳.
— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) October 8, 2025
We’ve concluded #ExKonkan. A proud moment as the Strike Group conducted a ceremonial sail past led by @HMSPWLS with the Indian task group led by INS Vikrant.#CSG25 #OpHighmast pic.twitter.com/YNa0TfnkWc
One embarrassing development came when a Royal Navy F-35B lost its way and made an emergency landing in southern India, getting stranded there for weeks. The carrier only picked it up after completing its tour of the Pacific, including visits to Australia, Singapore, and Japan.
Reports highlight RAF pilot pipeline challenges
While the Ministry has downplayed any link between the move and domestic issues, The Telegraph reported that the RAF has faced a pilot shortage “since a diversity hiring scheme backfired.” Documents cited by the publication suggested that the service needs more pilots in training to meet future operational demands.
Former RAF fighter pilot instructor Tim Davies told The Telegraph it could take 18 months to bring Indian instructors up to British standards, describing the move as a stopgap measure to address years of lost expertise.
The UK’s fast jet training system is in earnest need of a reliable replacement for the Hawk T2. It has suffered from a series of issues, the latest of which is the engine fault that has dramatically reduced the flying hours available. 🧵1/4 https://t.co/Xbhb23tLmb pic.twitter.com/etOl0E8fgO
— Greg Bagwell (@gregbagwell) March 25, 2025
At the end of 2024, the RAF had just 17 qualified flight instructors on the Hawk T2. The number rose to 23 by July 2025 and is expected to reach 26 by January 2026.
Featured Image: BAE Systems
