The three-week advanced tactical course brought together aircrews, intelligence officers and ground-controlled interception experts from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Participants were confronted with complex mission scenarios designed to qualify new mission commanders and supporting personnel for high-end air operations, with training reinforced by Opposing Forces elements including fighter aircraft and surface-to-air based defence systems.
Additional assets supporting the exercise included the NATO Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, tankers, tactical transport aircraft and helicopters, while French Navy assets added further realism to the integrated scenarios.
The Tactical Leadership Programme plays a central role in developing Allied aircrew expertise in Composite Air Operations by combining live flying with advanced synthetic training based on flight simulators and the Modern Air Combat Environment software, enabling crews to plan and execute complex mission profiles in a virtual setting capable of replicating realistic, high-stakes scenarios.
“The ability to leverage high-fidelity simulation ensured that our training objectives are always met,” said the TLP Commandant.
“This adaptability proves that we can preserve operational readiness and refine tactical coordination procedures without compromising safety, even when aircraft are grounded.”
According to NATO, the use of synthetic training enabled aircrews to rehearse rare or high-risk scenarios that would be difficult to replicate in live flight, providing a controlled setting to analyse errors and test alternative strategies while building confidence for effective leadership in the air domain.
Following the graduation of the new mission commanders, TLP staff have launched a formal improvement process incorporating lessons learned and participant feedback to maintain the highest standards of tactical training.
Established in 1978 in Germany, later relocated to Belgium in 1989 and permanently based at Albacete Air Base since 2009, the programme remains a cornerstone of Allied air cooperation, with Spain as host nation alongside Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States as contributing nations, and its facilities open to all NATO Allies and Partners upon request.
