NATO’s annual excuse to get busy with its paint pots and get creative occurred in late June when the majority of the organisation’s tiger squadrons gathered in northern Germany for the 2014 NATO Tiger Meet. This year’s event was hosted by the recently renamed Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader (TaktLwG) 51 at Schleswig-Jagel Air Base, 100 kilometres north of Hamburg. TaktLwG 51 had previously been known as Aufklärungsgeshwader (AKG) 51, until 1 October 2013 when all German Air Force units were renamed. Chris Wood and Karl Drage report from a chilly northern Germany.
A TaktLwG 51 Tornado ECR gets airborne for a Tiger Meet mission © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
TaktLwG 51 is the German Air Force’s only reconnaissance unit and has also taken over the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) role following the disbandment of JBG (Jagdbombergeschwader) 32 in March 2013. Consequently it operates both the IDS (Interdiction Strike) and ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance) versions of the Tornado.
The last time that Schleswig had been the venue for the Tiger Meet was in September 2004, and whilst this year’s event may not have been blessed with the 2004 weather, it was a considerably larger exercise, and took place over two weeks.
It followed the same pattern as recent years with participants arriving on Monday of the first week, flying two daytime missions on working days until the Thursday of the second week, when flying stopped for the prize giving and various social events. Participants then headed home the following day.
Most of the fast jet units brought five aircraft, including a two-seat version, and typically flew four in each mission. Virtually every squadron brought a specially-painted aircraft, a few of which had been seen before but most were new for this year.
A scheme that has been around for a few years © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Eagerly anticipated and most impressive was the Eurofighter EF2000 from the Bavarian Tigers of TaktLwG 74 at Neuburg, which rather put to bed all the rumours that you couldn’t paint Typhoons! It also won the prize for the best paint scheme, beating off stiff competition from the hosts, and the French.
Winner of the best paint scheme prize, TaktLwG 74’s stunning Eurofighter EF2000 © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Also looking stunning, EC1/7’s Rafale C © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
“NATO Tigers, Hard to be Humble!” © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
As has become the norm there were also a small number of helicopters taking part, to provide a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) element to the exercise.
The only helicopter in a special scheme, 221 Tactical Squadron’s Mil Mi-24V Hind © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
On the first day of the exercise 59/1 Puma Squadron of the Hungarian Air Force and the 6th Fighter Squadron of the Polish Air Force became full members of the NATO Tiger Association.
NATO Tiger Meet 2014 participants:
Austria: Jet Trainer Squadron, Linz-Horsching; 4x SAAB 105OE
The Austrians sent four SAAB 105OEs © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Belgium: 31 Smaldeel, Kleine Brogel; 4x F-16AM, 1x F-16BM Fighting Falcon
A new scheme for the Belgians © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Czech Republic: 211 Tactical Fighter Squadron; Caslav 3x JAS 39C, 1x JAS 39D Gripen
A Czech Gripen with a scheme that’s been around for a while © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
221 Tactical Squadron, Namest Nad Oslavou; 2x Mil 24V Hind, 1x Mil 171Sh
One of a pair of Mil Mi-24V Hinds © Chris Wood – www.globalaviationresource.com
The sole Mil Mi-171Sh © Chris Wood – www.globalaviationresource.com
France: 11 Flotille, Landivisiau; 5x Rafale M
French Navy Rafale M with tiger tanks © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
EC 1/7, St Dizier-Robinson “Provence”; 1x Rafale B, 2x Rafale C
Rafale C © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
ECE 05.330, Mont de Marsan “Cote d’Argent”: 2x Mirage 2000-5F, 1x Mirage 2000B
The Mirage 2000B wore the colours of EC 02.005 at Orange-Caritat © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Germany: TaktLwG 51, Schleswig–Jagel; Tornado ECR, Tornado IDS (4 aircraft assigned for each mission)
The hosts specially painted Tornado ECR © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
TaktLwG 74, Neuburg an der Donau; 6x Eurofighter EF2000, 1x Eurofighter EF2000(T)
Newcomers to the Tiger Meet scene, and still probationary members, TaktLwG 74 © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Hungary: 59/1 Puma Squadron, Kecskemet; 4x JAS 39C, 1x JAS 39D Gripen
Hungarian two-seat Gripen © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
NATO: No 1 Squadron, Geilenkirchen; 1x E-3A Sentry (operating from Orland in Norway)
Netherlands: 313 Squadron, Volkel; 5x F-16AM Fighting Falcon
313 Squadron’s special F-16AM © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Poland: 6th Fighter Squadron, Poznan-Krzesiny; 5x F-16C, 1x F-16D Fighting Falcon
One of two Polish F-16s to receive tiger stripes, the other was a single seater © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Switzerland: Fliegerstaffel 11, Meiringen; 4x F/A-18C, 1x F/A-18D Hornet
Another scheme that’s been around for a while © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Turkey: 192 Filo, Balikesir; 3x F-16C, 2x F-16D Fighting Falcon
One of two specially-painted Turkish F-16s © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
United Kingdom: 814 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose; 2x Merlin HM1
Merlin HM1 from 814 NAS © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Additionally GFD (Gesellschaft fur Flugzieldarstellung) provided a Learjet 35 for aerial target services and a German Army Tiger from Khr (Kampfhubschrauberregiments) 36 at Fritzlar operated with the helicopter element for some missions.
GFD’s Learjet 35 taxies back after a mission © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
German Army Tiger © Chris Wood – www.globalaviationresource.com
Additional aircraft from various tiger squadrons appeared at Schleswig during the course of the exercise, and on Friday afternoon three Portuguese F-16AMs from Esquadra 301 at Monte Real also arrived. They stayed for the weekend, departing on Monday morning.
The weather proved uncooperative during the later part of the first week, with strong winds and storms resulting in some curtailment of flying operations. However, Friday morning saw 48 fast jets take to the skies; a sight not often seen in Europe these days.
A French contingent, four Rafale Ms and a pair of Mirage 2000-5Fs, head for the Schleswig runway © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Two spotters’ days were organised during the event, one during each week, to enable photographers and enthusiasts to watch the activities close up. The first one was plagued by the weather which resulted in fewer aircraft than planned taking part in the missions. However, most of the non-flying, special-schemed aircraft, as well as most that did fly, were taxied past the spotters’ enclosure, providing an excellent opportunity to view and photograph the aircraft and the magnificent artwork.
A selection of colourful aircraft line up under a less than colourful sky © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
There was also a families day on the Friday of the first week.
One of two colourful Gripens from 211 Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Czech Air Force © Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Prize winners were as follows:
Silver Tiger Trophy: Fliegerstaffel 11 Switzerland
Best Flying Unit: 6 Fighter Squadron Poland
Tiger Games Winner: Escadron de Chasse 1/7 “Provence” France
Best Skit: 59/1 Puma Squadron Hungary
Best Looking Uniform: Fliegerstaffel 11 Switzerland
Most Fancy Paint Scheme: Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 Germany
Tiger Spirit Award: Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 Germany
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
The 2015 Tiger Meet is scheduled to be hosted by 192 Filo of the Turkish Air Force at Konya Air Force Base next May, which should at least guarantee some warmth and sunshine. This will make a pleasant change from the last three years which, with the 2012 and 2013 Tiger Meets being held in Norway, have seen a lot of rain and low temperatures.
Great photos.
And one small correction: Czech Mi-171sh which flew on excercise is also from 221 tiger squadron, not from 222.
OK, thanks for letting us know!
Fabulous photographs and interesting + informative text. Thank you all very, very much.
As for colour schemes, the German Eurofighter is indeed excellent, but the Rafale from French BA 113 (St. Dizier?) is nothing short of beautiful.
Thanks again. Peter F
Thanks Peter,
it’s been corrected!
Chris