NATO Tiger Meet 2023 – Gioia del Colle AFB
Exercise
Since the last time in 1988, and after more than 35 years, Italy has finally hosted once again the NATO Tiger Meet exercise!
Taking place from the 2nd to the 13th of October 2023, the 59th edition of the exercise has seen over 80 aircraft from 10 member countries and 2 non-member countries, flying and training together in the skies of the Apulia, Calabria, Sardinia and Basilicata regions, in southern Italy.
Hosted by the 36th Fighter Wing at Gioia del Colle AFB, located in the outskirts of Bari, NTM2023 has seen over a thousand training sorties, with more than 800 hours of flight time. With an average of 100+ sorties per day, training missions were carried out in two waves (one in the morning and one in the afternoon).
The exercise tested interoperability across 19 air units and supporting assets through complex Composite Air Operations (COMAO), as well as specialized missions like Electronic Warfare (EW), Basic Fighter Maneuvering (BFM), Search And Rescue (SAR) and much more.
The Italian Air Force deployed a variety of units and equipment, including Eurofighter Typhoons and HH-101A helicopters, to support air and ground operations. The Italian Navy also contributed, using the destroyer “Caio Duilio” for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and Anti Surface-Warfare (ASuW) missions, while the Italian Army and additional agencies provided logistical support.
The exercise underscored Italy’s role in NATO’s defense and reinforced the “Tiger spirit”, a commitment to shared defense and interoperability. The 36th Fighter Wing at Gioia del Colle, a key player in NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert and air policing, supports the security of NATO airspace and participates actively in both routine and heightened defense operations across Europe.
Our team had the opportunity to visit Gioia del Colle during a dedicated Spotter Day, which was held on the 6th of October 2023, but more about that later…enjoy the article!
History
The NATO Tiger Meet is a long-standing tradition within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with the first exercise being held in 1961, at RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom.
Formed to strengthen comradeship and cooperation among NATO air squadrons featuring the tiger emblem, the event has grown into a renowned yearly exercise that brings together various air forces for complex training in tactical operations. Over time, Tiger Meets have evolved to incorporate air, land, and sea defense strategies, emphasizing interoperability among allied forces. This collaborative exercise remains one of NATO’s most dynamic platforms for refining defense skills, showcasing special tiger-themed aircraft designs, and for strengthening bonds among nations.
35 years since NTM88
NATO Tiger Meet 1988 and 2023 were both held in Italy, highlighting the nation’s ongoing commitment to NATO’s legacy of aerial cooperation. The 1988 exercise took place at Cameri Air Base, hosted by the 53rd Wing, with a focus on air-to-air combat, using aircraft like the F-111 Aardvark and F-4 Phantoms. This period centered on Cold War-era defense strategies, with simpler tactical objectives and limited roles for ground and naval elements.
By contrast, the 2023 NATO Tiger Meet at Gioia del Colle Air Base brought together over 80 aircraft and incorporated modern multi-domain training. Reflecting NATO’s current defense priorities, the exercise included a range of tasks like close air support, personnel recovery, and air interdiction, integrating advanced fighter jets such as Eurofighter Typhoons and Gripens alongside aerial refueling and electronic warfare units.
Participants
NATO Tiger Meet 2023 showcased over 80 aircraft from 10 member countries, those being Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Portugal, and Türkiye. Additionally, Switzerland and Austria participated as non-member countries, highlighting the exercise’s broad multinational appeal.
Two additional countries (Finland and United Kingdom) sent their delegates to act as observers, this was because of the interest in the exercise.
In addition to Italy’s home-based Eurofighter EF2000s, two foreign Eurofighter squadrons also joined: Germany’s Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 (TaktLwG74) and Austria’s Staffel 2. The exercise also featured the agile and modern SAAB Gripens from the Czech and Hungarian air forces.
The Highlight of this event was certainly the participation of France’s Mirage 2000D RMV and the advanced Rafale F4.1 from ECE 1/30 “Côte d’Argent,” both wearing some wonderful special tiger liveries.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon proved to be the most popular aircraft type, with Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Türkiye, and Poland showcasing its widespread use among NATO air forces.
Helicopter support primarily focused on SAR missions. Italy’s HH-101 Caesar, France’s SA342 Gazelle, and EC665 Tiger brought essential versatility for special operations support.
Additional units enhanced the exercise’s complexity. Air-to-Air Refueling was conducted by Italy’s KC-130Js from Pisa and KC-767s from the 14th Wing, stationed at Pratica di Mare. For Electronic Warfare (EW) roles, a NATO E-3 Sentry from Geilenkirchen, temporarily operating from Trapani, joined a French Navy E-2C Hawkeye and a GFD Learjet, facilitating advanced EW and airborne early warning operations.
Reported below, is a complete spreadsheet containing all the different units and aircraft that participated, so that you can get a better idea on how vast NTM23 actually was!
Trophy Winners
NTM23 concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing several outstanding units for their performance. The prestigious Silver Tiger Trophy for best overall squadron went to the TaktLwG74. The Best OPS Trophy and victory in the Tiger Games were claimed by 31 Smaldeel, which also showcased its famous “X-Tiger” aircraft in one of its final appearances before its retirement.
The Best Uniform Trophy was awarded to 192 Filo, while the Best Skit Trophy went to ECE 1/30, recognizing their creativity during the event.
Silver Tiger Trophy: TaktLwG74 (Germany)
Tiger Games & Best OPS Trophy: 31 Smaldeel (Belgium)
Best Uniform Trophy: 192 Filo (Turkey)
Best Skit Trophy: ECE 1/30 Côte d’Argent (France)
TaktLwG74: Winner of “Silver Tiger” Trophy
31Smd: Winner of “Best OPS” and “Tiger Games” Trophies
192 Filo: Winner of “Best Uniform” Trophy
ECE 1/30: Winner of “Best Skit” Trophy
Spotter Day
As previously mentioned, our team had the unique opportunity to attend NTM23 during a dedicated Spotter Day, organized by the Italian Air Force in partnership with the NATO Tigers Association. This special event took place on the 6th of October 2023.
Our day began with an early-morning wake-up call at our accommodation in Gioia del Colle. After a nice breezy walk of several kilometers from the city center to the air base’s main gate, we gained access around 9:00 AM. Following a quick security and documentation check, we boarded a military bus that took us to our designated spotting area along RWY 32L.
By approximately 9:30 AM, we reached our designated spot, located less than 50 meters from the runway, certainly an ideal location that offered exceptional photos opportunities. The fliying activity kicked off shortly after 10:00 AM, with the French Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye being the first to take to the skies.
Roughly an hour into the action, the first landing was carried out by Turkey’s 192nd Filo, which executed a classy overhead break directly above us, providing a fantastic photo opportunity.
As the various units returned to the airbase, the highlight of the day unfolded. A Huge “elephant walk” featuring over 40 aircraft and helicopters, lined up for an official photoshoot, carried out by an Italian Air Force HH-101 hovering above. This was certainly the most memorable part of the whole experience.
The Spotter Day itself concluded around 1:00 PM, with the bus transporting us back to the main entrance, where we had the opportunity to grab a quick bite and purchase some exclusive memorabilia such as patches, hats, and keychains. With our cameras full and spirits high, we wrapped up an incredible day filled with unforgettable aviation experiences!
Wrap-Up
As we wrap up our NTM23 article, it is safe to say that it certainly was a wonderful exeprience, filled with action, spirit, friendship and lots of pictures!
The event was an extraordinary display of aviation power and international brothership, truly capturing the “Tiger spirit” that unites NATO squadrons.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to visit NTM24, held at Schleswig Air Base (Germany) from the 3rd to the 13th of June 2024, but we’re already setting our sights and lenses towards NATO Tiger Meet 2025, which will be held at Beja Air Base (Portugal), from the 21st of September to the 3rd of October next year!
Attached below, is a full 100+ pictures gallery showcasing our NTM23 experience. Grazie for taking the time to read and explore our article, see you in the next one!
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Gallery
Article by Christian Bossi – Pictures by Christian Bossi, Federico Massari, Matteo Carenini, Diego Mor.