New Delhi, March 23 British Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth praised a new initiative on Monday that will allow the Indian Air Force to train pilots from the UK's Royal Air Force, as both sides are looking to strengthen overall defense ties in the face of emerging security challenges.
The Chief of the Air Staff, currently on a three-day visit to India, held extensive talks with his Indian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and it is understood that the West Asia crisis was a topic of discussion.
Air Chief Marshal Smyth met with Singh to discuss evolving security threats and ways to further strengthen the partnership between the two air forces, according to a British statement.
Smyth is in India to "enhance military ties in the face of emerging security challenges," it said, without further details.
In February of this year, the UK and India signed an agreement under which the Indian Air Force will deploy three qualified flying instructors to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley in the UK – the training base for British fast jet pilots.
The two air chiefs will also travel to Air Force Station in Gwalior to understand IAF's operational procedures and best practices in countering new-age aerial threats.
"It is a privilege to visit India and further strengthen our defense partnership, hosted by my esteemed colleague and good friend, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh," Smyth said.
"The planned arrival this September of Indian Air Force Qualified Flying Instructors at RAF Valley – joining the IAF instructor already contributing at RAF College Cranwell – illustrates the depth of trust, shared professionalism, and mutual commitment that underpin our relationship," he said.
Smyth said these exchanges, along with expanding training and operational cooperation, demonstrate the enduring bonds between the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force.
"Our shared dedication to security, stability, and technological excellence. I look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to deepen the cooperation between our air forces in the years ahead," he said.
Commodore Chris Saunders, a defence advisor at the British High Commission, said the visit by the UK Chief of the Air Staff highlights the significance of the UK-India defense relationship.
"Embedding IAF instructors within our instructor cadre at RAF Valley and RAF College Cranwell, as well as those from other Services, alongside increasingly complex air exercises and multi-domain cooperation, represents a tangible and substantive strengthening of defense ties in all domains," he said.
"As the fourth and most senior flag-rank visitor from the UK to India in 2026, this visit clearly signals the strategic importance both nations place on developing a strong defense partnership," Saunders added.
Air Chief Marshal Smyth is also expected to hold discussions with other members of India's civil and military leadership.
