The UK is showcasing its air operational capabilities and strengthening NATO partnerships through the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP), currently taking place at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain.
This ‘pinnacle’ of air operations training sees 850 personnel from eight NATO nations test tactical interoperability, refining strategies to gain aerial combat advantages and improve multinational coordination say the RAF in a press release.
The RAF’s 29 Squadron Operational Conversion Unit from RAF Coningsby is at the forefront, deploying eight Typhoon aircraft and their crews to participate in what is described as a “flying laboratory for tactical employment concepts.”
Wing Commander Andrew Shaw, Officer Commanding 29 Squadron, highlighted the programme’s value in the press release, stating: “The Tactical Leadership Program offers the most immersive experience and opportunity for our crews to develop their leadership in a live flying scenario. You have to be at the top of your game, but working so closely with other NATO nations makes the training so valuable and demonstrates the extent of our capabilities, now and in the future.”
For the first time, RAF and Italian Air Force engineers are collaborating on cross-servicing Typhoon and F-35B Lightning aircraft, enhancing NATO’s Agile Combat Employment initiative. This new capability allows maintenance of each other’s aircraft, streamlining response times and increasing operational agility.
Air Vice-Marshal Harris, Director Support and Chief Engineer, emphasised the significance of this collaboration: “The ability to interoperate on the ground, cross-servicing aircraft between NATO partners, enhances the agility and speed of response of our Combat Air forces. We are delighted to be working so closely with our Italian partners on Typhoon and F-35B interoperability, laying strong foundations for wider Global Combat Air Programme engineering cooperation.”
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How reasuring to read that the RAF can deploy 8 Typhoons to an excercise of this sort, when on any given day only about 30 are combat ready to defend the nation. Clearly, after yesterday’s ’emergency’ scrapping of 5 RN ships and 14 Chinooks (not to mention the Puma replacements), Labour have decided to continue the 14 years of Tory defence capability cuts with more of the same.
Doubtless, the MoD will need an extra 5000 civil servants to manage these and the forthcoming SDSR cuts to be announced next year
Best of luck with your comments David. I received criticism the other day when I commented on how many serviceable / combat ready fighter aircraft the RAF has, globally, and on a daily basis – less than the USAF at RAF Lakenheath.
Having served in the RAF and been involved in wars and complex NATO / US based exercises, I think we would last about 48 hours before we are unable to defend the UK.
Yet, successive governments continue to cut defence with the RAF being neglected.
You should visit RAF Coningsby on a week day. It’s a hive of activity.
Yes in my day Coningsby was also very busy as was Binbrook, Wattisham, Scampton, Kinloss, St Mawgan , Leuchars, Coltishall, Cottesmore, Finningley, Lyneham, Linton on Ouse and many other smaller locations all of which have been closed as RAF bases. There was also 2 big RAF bases in Germany Wildenrath and Laabruch which are also closed.