Posted on 10/17/2025 4:36:41 AM PDT by fluorescence
The RAF will use instructors from the Indian air force to train its next generation of pilots.
The “unprecedented” move, announced by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, is part of a defence deal to bring Britain and India closer.
The RAF had faced a pilot shortage since a diversity hiring scheme backfired, with documents earlier this year revealing it needed a “higher number of pilots in training”.
Foreign instructors are often used to train British pilots. However, it is believed this could be the first time since the Second World War’s “Empire Air Training Scheme” that Indian experts have been used to coach RAF crews.
RAF making up for ‘shortfall and loss of talent’
Air Marshal Edward Stringer, a retired fast-jet pilot, welcomed the news. “This is unprecedented. They should have done something like this years ago,” he said, adding: “However, the devil will be in the details.”
Tim Davies, a former RAF fighter pilot instructor, said the Indians would be an “asset” but warned it would take more than a year to get them to British standards.
He added: “This is just a stopgap to make up for the shortfall and loss of talent that the RAF has haemorrhaged over the last few years.
“It’s going to be 18 months before you see any of these instructors coming across.”
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Oh great, they will stop in mid-air and get out.
What could go wrong?
So this is the country leading the charge to drive Russia out of Ukraine?
yep,
they’re getting a flight together as we speak..
Indians training north africans to fly British jets. They are so far ahead of the curve.
If you’re an Air Traffic Controller, good luck understanding Lance or Peggy from the cockpit.
Sad to see our cousins in such dire straits... that’s the results of DEI for you.
I think this is our attempt (there be numerous angles we work to include our allies like the UK) to bring India back into our fold.
Ukraine and the sanction politics caused for India to drift into the Chinese / Russian sphere which isn’t good for us.
Actually, Britain does not really build that many military jets these days
I think the Hawk and Typhoon are pretty much it and both are great planes but they are both getting a bit long in the tooth
RAF modernization would require a massive and very expensive investment to develop multiple new aircraft designs at a time when the Brits can’t even afford to keep their existing planes flying
It should be noted that Indian pilots were flying for the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force during the First World War. The Indian Air Force was founded in British India in 1932.
So, the RAF and IAF have a very long history of cooperation. The Indian Air Forces structure, uniforms and ranks are drawn from those of the Royal Air Force.
The RAF won’t be combat capable, but at least the pilots will have access to a decent chicken tikka masala.
CC
That’s not funny.
Curry smell in the cockpits?
They seem woefully unprepared for the war they’ve been daring Putin to start. I guess the plan was to have the US do all the dying while NATO members did clean uniform support roles.
I got my bachelor’s degree in engineering in India, and masters degree in engineering in USA. Comparing the professors in 2 countries, the Indians were better teachers. They would explain the theory in detail. American professors relied more on students self learning. I liked the course dealing with developing mathematical algorithms for self driving cars at U of Iowa. This was circa 1961.
No more RAF Banter.
Air Marshal Edward Stringer, a retired fast-jet pilot, welcomed the news. “This is unprecedented. They should have done something like this years ago,” he said, adding: “However, the devil will be in the details.”
Exactly. What they neglect to mention is that the minute these instructor pilots fire heat-Sikhing missiles, it all goes horribly wrong.
Why isn’t it funny? It’s more a jibe on British military preparedness than a dig on Indians. And most Indians I’ve met wear the scent of their cooking spices like a badge of honor.
CC
I’m just funnin’ ya.
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