United Kingdom and Development of Indian Air Force in 1950s——Focusing on Anglo-Indian Fighter Trade
The United Kingdom played an important role in the development process of India's Air Force after the latter gained independence.Besides sending officers to administrate and train the Indian Air Force,the UK maintained its influence by supplying fighter jets and spare parts.The two cases of Britain stopping India from buying the Soviet-made IL-28 bombers and the Anglo-Indian Hunter fighters indicated that the UK's arms supply policy to Indian Air Force aimed not only to contain Soviet Union,but also to promote its own arms export as well as to ensure Indian Air Force's dependence on British equipment and technology,reflecting the characteristics of imperial consciousness in combination with Cold War motivation in Britain's South Asia policy.