M
ISSION: DEFEND
BALTIONA. Enemy
aircraft from the
state of Bussia could
interfere with our
operations’. With full
concentration, today’s mission
commander (MC) is brainstorming
with around 50 NATO pilots, plus
meteorological and intelligence
personnel. They are planning a
realistic and complex combined
air operation (COMAO) that will
begin in three hours at Albacete
air base, Spain, home of the
Tactical Leadership Programme
(TLP). Although it is mid-February,
the weather in southern Spain is
excellent.The rst TLP exercise of 2018 drew
participants from France, Germany,
Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and
Spain. The Albacete ight line
was lled with Rafale Ms, Mirage
2000Ds, F-16AMs, F-16C/Ds, EF2000s
and EF-18s.
A full battle plan was formulated
during each COMAO brainstorming
session. In the course of the exercise,
the young TLP pilots (each with an
average of 500 to 1,000 fast jet ying
hours to their name) learned how to
lead a formation of di erent types
and capabilities to a target. The MC,
leading the session, served as the
data collector for all suggestions
that arose as a result. These ideas fed
into an analytical strategy with theaim of defending the ctional land
of Baltonia.
Experienced instructor pilots
— most of them veterans of
campaigns in the Balkans, Persian
Gulf and Afghanistan — sometimes
interjected in the discussions to
ensure the young pilots were on
the right track. Red Air pilots were
present at the beginning, but they
left in time to make their own plans
for the Bussian side.
Dutch Maj Toon is a member of
the international TLP sta and an
instructor: ‘All participating nations
work closely together during this
rst course of the year. For the pilots,
this is a rst chance to operate as a
leader with an international coalition.‘ After nishing the course, the next
step could be leading a COMAO
against ISIS over Iraq and Syria.’
Toon continued, ‘During the
intensive four-week course, instructors
present all kinds of surprising
scenarios. The pilots must act quickly
and creatively. One day the COMAO
might attack a naval vessel, and
the next the package must assist
in retrieving a pilot behind enemy
lines’. For the latter scenario, US V-
Ospreys and Italian combat search and
rescue helicopters were involved.
Toon served as an MC several times
over Iraq, where he led a COMAO
in combat. ‘Being an MC is a tough
job’, he re ected. ‘But TLP is a good
school’. To the four Dutch pilots at
TLP 2018-1, Toon had the following
advice: ‘You are allowed to make
mistakes during TLP; try to learn
from them. The tools you get from
this program are a springboard to
the rest of your career.’
Although TLP 2018-2 has been
cancelled, TLP 2018-3 will return to
Albacete, while the next exercise is
planned to take place at the Italian
air base at Amendola. This will be
the rst TLP with participation by
the F-35A.
Toon added, ‘As TLP sta we’re
looking forward to the F-35 within
our program. But, don’t forget, the
Lightning II is just a ghter, but
one with special capabilities. If we
want to keep TLP relevant, we must
innovate. During TLP 2018-4 we will
get that chance.’ Stephan de BruijnDUELS AT ALBACETE
FIRST TLP EXERCISE OF 2018
Supporting assets included this Italian Air Force Gulfstream E-550A
conformal airborne early warning (CAEW) aircraft and the Spanish Air
Force’s rarely seen CASA EC-212 electronic intelligence (ELINT) platform.
Stephan de BruijnRoyal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AMs were back at TLP for
the fi rst time since September- Due to real-world taskings
in the Baltic and the Middle
East, the RNLAF command had
postponed participation up to
now. Stephan de Bruijn
A French Air Force Mirage 2000D blasts off from Albacete. These jets took
part in TLP 2018-1 alongside French Navy Rafale Ms. Stephan de Bruijn[NEWS] WORLD
20 June 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
18-22 World News C.indd 20 20/04/2018 14: