The international NATO Tiger Meet 2018 will be hosted by the Polish Air Force 2nd Tactical Air Wing at Krzesiny Air Base near Poznan, Poland this month.
Twenty-two flying squadrons from Allies Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom and Partners Austria and Switzerland as well as a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) plane – in total approx. 70 aircraft and ten helicopters – are scheduled to participate in this largest air training event of the Polish Air Force in 2018.
Since the 1960s, the training of “Tiger Squadrons”, i.e. aircraft and helicopter squadrons featuring a tiger in their patch is organised annually by the NATO Tiger Association in liaison with one of its member squadrons. The training applies NATO standards bringing together Allied and Partner aircraft for two weeks of live-flying in highly sophisticated, challenging scenarios. The multinational and joint training environment further increases flying skills, friendship and Partner relations among squadrons.
According to NATO:
“The NATO Tiger Meet is one of the most important air meets at the tactical level for NATO and Partner air forces. The varied mix of aircraft and nations allows participants to improve their tactics, techniques and procedures and takes interoperability to the next level.”
Photo by Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK (Eurofighter Typhoon ’30+09′) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
i’m not sure whether i’m more impressed by the tiger colour scheme or the fact that the Luftwaffe have a fast jet airworthy!
Surprised this article didn’t link into the website for the 2018 Tiger meet.
https://www.natotigers.org/tiger-gallery
Farouk, some lovely artwork! So RAF only contributing a Puma helicopter?
Hi Richard, I wouldn’t read too much into it. It’s a NATO “Tiger Meet” – and we haven’t had a fast-jet Tiger Squadron since the disbandment of No.74 squadron, with their Phantom interceptors, in 1992.
But No.230 squadron has a tiger in its squadron badge, so the RAF enter into the spirit of things and usually send a Puma crew along ……… but the RAF has plenty of other opportunities to train with allied air-forces.
Julian1, they must have pulled out all the stops just to impress you. Can’t think of another reason…?
FYI Czech Republic is now called Czechia
https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/725835/republic-of-czech-prague-czechia-change-of-name-Prague
The RAF no longer have any operational puma’s left!!
Nigel – they should have,they were recently upgraded around 2012-2014, the Merlin’s were transfered to the RN ,leaving the RAF with a Chinook/Puma fleet.
It’s nice to see that the Luftwaffe managed to send their aeroplane.