The scenario for this year’s event
was built around a tense crisis
situation. Aircrews had to deal
with both conventional and hybrid
warfare threats with an integrated air
defense network, deep strikes into
‘enemy’ territory and supporting land
forces. As usual, the exercise was all
about promoting understanding and
interoperability between European
air forces.
One of the most complicated
missions revolved around personnel
recovery, resulting in a complex
combined air operation (COMAO).
The rotary-wing assets had to pluck
a downed airman from hostile
territory while a strike element
pounded enemy ground positions and
defensive counter-air ‘players’ secured
the airspace.
In total, the NTM included eight
full-scale COMAOs and more than
1,000 individual sorties. Most of the
participants joined the morning
COMAOs, before the formations
were broken down in the afternoons
for each element to practise their
respective elements, in what was
dubbed a ‘shadow wave’.
On the nal day of the meet the best
squadron trophy went to the Royal
Netherlands Air Force’s 313 Squadron
from Volkel with its F-16AMs. As the
NATO Tigers went their separate ways,
the 2019 event was announced as
being staged at Mont-de-Marsan.
Planning is already under way.This image: Still a stunning tiger
— Polish Air Force Su-22UM-3K
serial 707 wears markings that
date back to 2003. It leads a
Swiss Air Force F/A-18C J-5011
from Fliegerstaffel 11, a Luftwaffe
Tornado ECR 46+57 from TaktLwG
51 and an Austrian Air Force Saab
105, serial RE-25.
Below left to right: One of three
Tornado ECRs from TaktLwG 51
gets airborne for one of the major
COMAO missions.
A Swiss F/A-18C maintainer awaits
the next mission while attired in a
suitable outfi t.
Three stunning Eurofi ghters at
the NTM. Led by the Spanish Air
Force’s ‘142 Tiger’ from Escuadrón
142 at Albacete, the formation also
includes Luftwaffe Eurofi ghter
31+00 ‘Ghost Tiger’ from TaktLwG
74 at Neuburg and Italy’s specially
marked XII Gruppo jet.56 August 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
PHOTO REPORT // NATO TIGER MEET
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