The 2022 iteration of NATO’s Tiger Meet took place at Araxos Air Base in western Greece between 9th and 20th May. Chris Wood reports.
This was the first time that the Hellenic Air Force (HAF – Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia) had hosted a Tiger Meet since Greece joined the organisation in 1972. The host squadron was 335 Mira, ‘Aegean Tigers’, flying Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcons.
335 Mira Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52+ getting airborne for a Tiger Meet mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The exercise provided the opportunity for the participating squadrons to practice a variety of complex air operations covering a wide spectrum of modern air warfare, such as Defensive and Offensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, Dynamic Targeting, Time Sensitive Targeting, Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences, Air Power Contribution to Land Operations and Air Power Contribution to Maritime Operations. Around 60 aircraft took part and over 600 missions were flown throughout Greek airspace.
Taking part were 31 Smaldeel from Kleine Brogel, Belgium with F-16AM Fighting Falcons.
Captain Steven “Vrieske” De Vries gets airborne in the Belgian X-Tiger to start his display routine. The aircraft also flew regular missions during the exercise © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
221 Vrl from Namest, Czech Republic with Mi 35 Hinds
The Czechs brought their Alien themed Hind, first seen at the 2016 Tiger Meet at Zaragoza © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Escadron de Chasse et Experimentation (ECE) 1/30 from Mont de Marsan, France with Rafale Bs
Rafale B from ECE 1/30 ‘Steel Tigers’ © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Escadron de Chasse (EC) 3/30, also from Mont de Marsan, with Rafale Cs
Rafale C from EC 3/30. This aircraft was damaged when it collided with another Rafale during the Meeting de L’Air at Cognac on May 22nd © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
11 Flotille from Landivisiau, France with Rafale Ms
Rafale M from 11 Flotille © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
12 Gruppo from Gioia del Colle, Italy with Eurofighter 2000s
Eurofighter 2000 from 36 Stormo © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Ala 15 from Zaragoza, Spain with EF-18 Hornets
Spanish EF-18M © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Staffel 11 from Meiringen, Switzerland with F/A-18C Hornets.
Swiss F/A-18C. The Swiss only took part for the first week, with the aircraft heading home on Friday 13th © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
External assets included the F-16C/D Block 52+s of the other Araxos based squadron, 336 Mira ‘Olympus’.
336 Mira F-16C Block 52+ lands after a Tiger Meet mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Other aircraft from a large number of HAF squadrons also took part, flying F-16C/Ds, Mirage 2000-5s, F-4E (AUP) Phantom IIs, C-130H Hercules, AB205As and Airborne Early Warning and Control EMB-145H, as well as assets from the the Hellenic Navy and Army. Additionally Aeronavale E-2C Hawkeyes from 4 Flotille based at Lorient were involved.
A pair of 338 Mira F-4E (AUP)s took part in the afternoon mission on Friday 13th and recovered to Araxos © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Reportedly AB205As from 358 Mira took part in the exercise © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
A number of countries sent observers and other personnel, including Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the USA. Germany and Portugal also sent aircraft for a weekend stop.
A pair of Eurofighter 2000Ts from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader (TLG) 74 visited for the weekend © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Also visiting for the weekend were some Portuguese F-16s from Esquadra 301 ‘Jaguars’ at Monte Real, including this F-16BM © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The Tiger Meet has a number of traditions, ranging from painting aircraft in special tiger themed colour schemes, through special tiger games to each country hosting nationally themed dining. Another is the awarding of various categories of prize. This years prize winners were:
- Silver Tiger: EC3/30
- Best Operations: 31 Smaldeel
- Best Tiger Aircraft: EC3/30
- Best Uniform: EC3/30
- Tiger Games: 221Vrl
The HAF organised a number of events during the exercise; a Spotters Day on Friday 13th May, a small airshow on Sunday 15th and a Media Day on Monday 16th.
The Spotters Day activity comprised a large Combined Air Operations mission in the morning, a Tiger Formation which overflew various landmarks including Athens in the early afternoon and further afternoon sorties.
Tiger Formation passing the airfield © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The airshow was a small affair, with a relatively small crowd of enthusiasts and local people. Most of the Tiger jets were on static display, and the flying display comprised a Czech Mil 35 Hind, Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon, Spanish EF-18 Hornet and the Aeronavale Rafale M two ship tactical display. The HAF contribution was the T-6A Texan II ‘Daedalus’ Demo Team, the F-16C ‘Zeus’ Demo Team and the recently restored Spitfire Mk IX MJ755.
Aeronavale Rafale M tactical display © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Zeus getting airborne “because I was inverted!” © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Beautifully restored Spitfire MJ755, which can normally be found at the Hellenic Air Force Museum at Tatoi © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The finale of the flying display © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
335 Mira is considered the oldest squadron in the HAF and can trace its lineage back to October 1941, when it was formed at Akir in Palestine with Hurricane IIs. These were replaced by Spitfire Mk Vs, which in turn were replace by Spitfire Mk IXs and XVIs in 1947. In 1953 it became the first HAF squadron to operate jets when it received F-84G Thunderjets and RT-33As. In autumn 1957 it received F-84F Thunderstreaks, which it operated until they were replaced by F-104G Starfighters in May 1965. The F-104s gave way to A-7 Corsairs in 1993 and then the squadron transitioned to the F-16C/D in 2009. The squadron has been at Araxos since June 1977.
One Greek F-16C was adorned with tiger markings, and led the Tiger Formation. 335 and 336 Mira share the latest batch of 30 F-16s acquired by Greece, but this aircraft isn’t one of them. It’s their first Block 50 aircraft, and it’s spent time based at Edwards Air Force Base in California, trialling weapons and electronics. Whilst stateside it wore an Edwards tailcode and it’s full FMS serial 93-1045. Consequently it still carries a four digit serial, whilst all the other Greek F-16s carry three digit serials.
F-16C Block 50 1045 wearing tiger markings © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Plans are already underway for the 2023 Tiger Meet which will be hosted by Gruppo 12 of the Italian Air Force. With 313 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in the process of converting to the F-35A Lightning II, 2023 could see the first deployment of this aircraft to a Tiger Meet. Keep an eye on here for details.
