The event brought together aircrew, maintainers and support personnel from Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain and Switzerland. Participating units operated F-16 Fighting Falcons, Eurofighters, Gripens, Tornados, Hornets, Venom helicopters and HH.101 helicopters.
The NATO Tiger Association was originally established in 1961 as a gathering of squadrons sharing the tiger emblem. It has since developed into a major multinational training event involving fighter aircraft, helicopters and supporting assets from across the Alliance.
Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, said multinational air training remains important in the current security environment. “In modern warfare, where skies serve as both battlegrounds and corridors of deterrence, the mastery of air power stands paramount,” he said during the exercise Distinguished Visitors’ Day.
“Exercises like the NATO Tiger Meet provide the ideal framework to train as a team, to enhance interoperability, and to ensure that we can respond collectively, decisively, and effectively to any emerging threat,” Grigoriadis added.
He also highlighted the need to adapt to new operational challenges, including unmanned systems and multi-domain warfare. “The nature of warfare is rapidly evolving,” Grigoriadis said.
“We are witnessing the increasing use of low-cost, highly effective unmanned combat aerial vehicles, which are reshaping the battlespace and challenging traditional concepts of air superiority,” he added.
Brigadier General Michel, a retired French Air Force officer and adviser to the NATO Tiger Association, said interoperability remained central to the exercise. “The NATO Tiger Meet is a nest of interoperability, a nest of friendship, and a nest of tradition,” he said.
“There is something very strong in the links between the participating units,” Michel added.
During the two-week exercise, allied units trained in increasingly complex scenarios designed to reflect modern operational challenges. Aircrews worked together against simulated threats in contested environments.
“Each year we meet together to improve our tactics, work together, and adapt to emerging threats such as drones and missiles,” Michel said. “The exercise evolves continuously to remain realistic and relevant to the security environment we face today.”
The exercise also included supporting capabilities beyond fighter aircraft. “We also integrate supporting assets that are not part of the Tiger community, such as drones, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF), and naval units at sea, in order to create the most realistic operational environment possible,” Michel added.
NATO said exercises such as Tiger Meet help build trust among aircrews, commanders and support personnel who may operate together during real-world missions. The training is also intended to strengthen cooperation and readiness across allied air forces.
“As conflicts around the globe continue to unfold, the imperative to shape superiority and ensure security in the skies remains the only route to a stable and prosperous future for our nations,” Grigoriadis said.
Organisers said future editions of the exercise are already being planned. “We are already working on the future editions of the NATO Tiger Meet with a long-term plan, because we believe this interoperability is essential,” Michel said.
“We need to continue training together to be ready to face challenges together, like tigers,” he added.
The Best OPS trophy was awarded to 31 Squadron of the Belgian Air Force, operating F-16A/B MLU Fighting Falcons. The Special Tiger Spirit award went to 221 Helicopter Squadron of the Czech Air Force, which operated AH-1Y Venom helicopters.
The Silver Tiger and Special Painted Aircraft awards went to 12° Gruppo of the Italian Air Force, which operated EF-2000 Eurofighters. The unit is also scheduled to host NATO Tiger Meet 2027 at Gioia del Colle.
