NATO Tiger Meet 2009

This year's NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) was held at Kleine Brogel Air Base in Belgium between 14 and 25 September 2009. Around 65 aircraft and helicopters from 11 nations joined the hosting 31st Tigers squadron for two weeks of Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) and Composite Air Operations (COMAO) making it one of the biggest exercises in Europe this year. Daily two missions were flown, mostly to the Dutch TRAs (Temporary Reserved Airspace) North of the Netherlands. Some of the aircraft were also involved in a CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) exercise called "Pegasus 2009" which was held in Southern Belgium during the period.

Unfortunately, some tiger squadrons had to cancel their participation due to other obligations. Therefore no aircraft from Greece, Italy and Turkey were present during Tiger Meet 2009. On the positive side their was a first time participant this year: the 1st Puma squadron of the Hungarian Air Force. Three years ago this unit switched from MiG-29's to brand new SAAB JAS-39C/D Gripens.

Winners of this years prestigious "Silver Tiger Trophy" for overall best tiger squadron during Tiger Meet 2009 was Escadron de Chasse 01.012 flying the Mirage 2000. In fact, the end result was the same as the 51st AG from Germany, but the French had a higher score in the flying discipline.

In October 2010 the next edition of the NATO Tiger Meet will be organised by the Dutch 313 squadron and held at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands.

© 2009 3Greens.nl