The 2019 iteration of the NATO Tiger Meet took place at Base Aerienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan, in southwestern France, from May 13th to 24th. Chris Wood reports from le repaire du Tigre (the Tigers’ lair) for GAR, with additional photography by Tom Gibbons.
A selection of Tigers, resting after the day’s missions © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
This was the first time that the Tiger Meet had been held at Mont-de-Marsan, which is home to Escadre de Chasse EC 30 (30th Fighter Wing) of the Armee de l’Air (French Air Force). EC 30 includes two Tiger squadrons; Escadron de Chasse et d’Experimentation ECE 1/30 (1st Fighter and Experimentation Squadron of the 30th Fighter Wing) ‘Cote d’Argent’, and Escadron de Chasse EC 3/30 (3rd Fighter Squadron of the 30th Fighter Wing) ‘Lorraine’. This year’s event was hosted by EC 3/30, who are the newest members of the NATO Tiger Association having joined in 2016. They became eligible to join the community when SPA 162 ‘Tigers’ transferred to EC 3/30 as the 3rd Escadrille (Flight). It is also home to the French Air Force’s Centre d’Expertise Aerienne Militaire (CEAM, Air Warfare Centre), and various other flying and ground based units.
EC 30 primarily operates Rafales, in both the two seat B and single seat C versions. This one is wearing the badge of SPA97, one of the Escadrilles of EC 2/30 Normandie Nieman © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Whilst the Tiger community enjoys a strong camaraderie, the Tiger Meet has a serious purpose and is probably one of the largest and most diverse exercises within NATO. This year’s exercise involved around 50 fast jets, 10 helicopters and other airborne assets, from nine countries, as well as ground based air defence systems and a warship. A further four countries sent observers. A total of 700 French Air Force servicemen and woman, plus a further 150 from the French Navy and Army as well as 800 foreign servicemen and women were expected to take part.
Interoperability is what it’s all about, as illustrated by this Royal Navy Merlin HM2 from 814 NAS, operating with the French Army Tigre HAP from 5 RHC © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Squadrons are encouraged to bring twin seat versions of their aircraft, to provide the opportunity for aircrew to experience other aircraft (although not in this case!) © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
On the flying days two missions were scheduled, a COMAO (COMposite Air Operations) mission in the morning and what was termed a Shadow mission in the afternoon. The COMAO mission was described as a ‘large scale international Entry Force’ (first to enter a contested airspace in a hostile territory) mission, whilst the Shadow mission covered a variety of scenarios; Within Visual Range combat, Close Air Support, Electronic Warfare, Jamming and Mixed Fighter Element (mix of French and foreign fighters in a patrol).
ECE 1/30 Mirage 2000D with a Tiger tail, returning from the morning mission. The squadron also painted one of its Rafales with the same tail © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Analysis of the missions was done through a dedicated Distributed Mission Operations Centre (DMOC), which gave a real time display of the air situation using software that enabled a connection, via Link 16, to the same network as the aircraft. Within the DMOC an experienced pilot, the Air Boss, was able to lead, and modify, the missions to meet the training objectives. Assisting the Air Boss were two Range Training Officers who were able to do real time battle damage assessments and remove aircraft from the mission that had been ‘hit’.
The Alpha Jets from Cazaux wore a number of different badges, this one carries the markings of ETO 2/8 © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The Tiger Meet is strong on traditions (don’t mention ‘dead bugs’ around Tiger aircrew!), one of which is a theme for the Meet. Perhaps not surprisingly EC 3/30 chose the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings, opting for a ‘Dark Smoking Tiger’ to represent the smoke screen created in the early hours of 6th June 1944 by twelve Bostons of 342 Squadron (the forerunner of EC 3/30) over the Normandy beaches. ‘The Dark Tiger rises from the night’s darkness and blows the wind of freedom. It symbolizes the union of the Tiger spirit and the mythic heritage of the Free French Forces’.
The squadron painted a Rafale in a ‘Dark Tiger’ scheme, and this was one of five aircraft with overall schemes. A further ten aircraft sported Tiger tails.
EC 3/30s gorgeous ‘Dark Tiger’ © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
This Rafale carries markings to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a maintenance unit, ESTA 15/30 ‘Chalosse’ © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
On the first Friday the base held a Spotter’s Day, which allowed enthusiasts and photographers to get up close to the action with an enclosure between the taxiway and the runway. Unfortunately, what had started out as a gloriously sunny week saw a deterioration in the weather as a storm system moved in and the day was rather wet. However this didn’t affect the flying, dampen the enthusiasm, or deter the arrivals of a number of aircraft for a Families Day, held the following day.
The first Friday saw some display rehearsals for the following day’s Families Day, including the Rafale solo display © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The day before the Families Day saw the arrival of a pair of German Eurofighters from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader (TaktLwG) 74 at Neuberg … © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
… as well as a pair of Dutch F-16AMs from 313 Squadron at Volkel © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
NATO Tiger Association participants:
Austria: 1 Jet Trainer Squadron, Linz-Horsching, three SAAB 105OE
Colourful Austrian © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Belgium: 31 Smaldeel, Kleine Brogel, five F-16AM and one F-16BM
Belgian F-16AM with a ‘rusty’ tail, which caused some consternation among some less enlightened quarters, who thought it really was rusty! © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
France: ECE 1/30, Mont-de-Marsan ‘Cote d’Argent’, three Mirage 2000D and four Rafale B/C
ECE 1/30 participated with Mirage 2000Ds and Rafale Bs and Cs, this B is wearing the badge of Escadrille BR127 © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
EC 3/30, Mont-de-Marsan ‘Lorraine’, four Rafale B/C
EC 3/30 were the host squadron, flying Rafales including this one wearing the badge of Escadrille SAL56 © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
3 RHC, Etain Rouvres, three SA342M Gazelle
3 RHC Gazelle © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Germany: TakLwG 51, Schleswig–Jagel, four Tornado ECR
TakLwG 51 Tornado ECR getting airborne © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
Italy: XII Gruppo, Gioia Del Colle, four EF 2000 and two EF2000T Eurofighters
One of a pair of Italian Eurofighters wearing special tail markings © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
21 Gruppo, Grazzinise, two AB 212AM
Italian AB 212AM © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
NATO: AEWCF No 1 Squadron, Geilenkirchen, one E-3A
The NATO E-3A getting airborne for a morning mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Portugal: Esquadra 301 ‘Jaguars’, Monte Real, four F-16AM and one F-16BM
The Jaguars of Esquadra 301 brought a jet with a colourful tail © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
Spain: Ala 15, Zaragoza, six EF-18AM and one EF-18BM
Led by a jet still wearing it’s markings from the 2016 Tiger Meet at Zaragoza, a pair of Spanish Hornets gets airborne © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
UK: 814 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose, one Merlin HM2
The Royal Navy’s Flying Tigers of 814 NAS brought a single Merlin HM2 © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
230 Squadron, RAF Benson, two Puma HC2
RAF Puma HC2 taxying to park for the Families Day © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
External assets:
France: EE 3/8, Cazaux ‘Cote D’Or’, six Alpha Jet E
A pair of Alpha Jets launch for another mission © Tom Gibbons – Global Aviation Resource
EDCA 36, Avord, one E-3F
French Air Force E-3F on finals after an afternoon mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
5 RHC, Pau Pyrenees, one EC665 Tigre HAP
The Tigre heads out on another mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Additionally GFD (Gesellschaft fur Flugzieldarstellung) provided a Learjet 35 for aerial target services.
The GFD Learjet got into the Tiger spirit! © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Prizes for a number of categories are another Tiger tradition. This year’s prize winners were as follows:
Silver Tiger Trophy: Esquadra 301 ‘Jaguars’ Portugal
Best Flying Unit: EC 3/30 ‘Lorraine’ France
Tiger Games Winner: ECE 1/30 ‘Cote d’Argent’ France
Best Skit: 3 RHC France
Best Looking Uniform: 1 Jet Trainer Squadron Austria
Most Fancy Paint Scheme: EC 3/30 ‘Lorraine’ France
Judged to be the best colour scheme © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The 2020 Tiger Meet is scheduled to be hosted by Esquadra 301 of the Portuguese Air Force at Beja Air Base, from May 11th to 22nd.
‘TIGER, TIGER, TIGER!’ (don’t mention the bugs!…..)
