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Home | Update | LATEST ISSUE | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 8/98 TIGER MEET 98 AT LECHFELD by Karl Schwarz Even during the lunch break everyone is hard at work in the improvised OPS room. About one and a half hours before the impending mission "Cougar", "Tiger", "Leopard", "Panther" or "Lion" supply some final pieces of information. The aircraft and pilots are being listed under the code names of the squadrons which are taking part. Some of the times are being adjusted. Everyone hopes that all will run smoothly at this first COMAO (Combined Air Operation) of this yearÕs Tiger Meet, in which no fewer than 20 aircraft are taking part. From 14.45 hrs the aircraft roll out onto the runway at Lechfeld. Amongst these are Tornado ADV- fighters from Italy, Super Etendards of the French Navy, F-16As from Belgium or German Tornado ECR and reconnaissance aircraft. "This mixture of different fighters from different armed forces has a high teaching effect, Flying Officer Stefan Neumann of the hosting first squadron of the Jagdbombergeschwader 32 explains. When else do you have the chance to fly with the French and discuss the exercise afterwards in detail?" During flight exercises like these the NATO Tiger Association, which has set out to improve the operational deployment ability, tactics and standards of its member squadrons, really comes into its own. This applies even more this year, where the JaboG 32 has managed to incorporate most flights during the meeting into the Central Enterprise Exercise, which is taking place simultaneously. This is why the tasks are set by the ICAOC (Interim Combined Air Operation Centre) in Meßstetten. A typical task for example is the attack of a target of the "Outer Coalition" in Alsace. Routing to the north around the Frankfurt area and the ECM-Range (an area with air defence radars, which enables electronic battle practise) the approach is made from Ramstein. The egress route leads over the Black Forest directly back to the base. For a mission like this a complete "package" is put together, headed by two F-15C Eagle of the USAFE. They act as "Fighter Sweep to keep the route free of enemy fighters. After a few minutes they are followed by four Tornado ECR, which in turn are accompanied by two Mirage-2000s. Their task is to suppress the air defence. Two to four minutes later, Tornado- and Super-Etendard-bombers as well as fighter-bombers like the F-16 Fighting Falcon follow. Reconnaissance- Tornados bring up the rear to document the effectiveness of the "attack". The participating squadrons take turns in leading the package. Flying Officer Neumann explains that, it goes without saying that only experienced crew can take part since the COMAOS are quite complex. At the German Air Force they need to be Combat Ready and must have had a stint at Goose Bay. In all 66 crew and about 30 aircraft have turned up for the Tiger Meet at Lechfeld. If you include technicians there were over 230 men (and women), who had to be looked after. "Carrying out a meeting like this needs a lot of resources. We invited every Tiger squadron and carried out an initial planning meeting with all commanders of the units that were taking part after enlisting in February. Discussed were small but not unimportant details like hangar space, refuelling opportunities or even the compatibility of dragging poles," Neuman explains the agenda. On Monday, 15 July the maintenance crews arrived. They were flown in by either Transall or C-130 Hercules. This is how the technical care was guaranteed, since most of the aircraft involved in the exercise touched down at Lechfeld on Tuesday morning. Then followed the crew's detailed briefing of approach procedures, air space rules and safety regulations, before the Tiger Meet was officially opened with the ceremonious hoisting of the flags that evening. For Wednesday a "familiarisation mission" was scheduled. It led in a loop across Bavaria and Baden Württemberg. Well-loved sights like the Hohenzollern Fortress and the Chiemsee were also integrated into the route. During Thursday a lot of flying took place. First of all there was opportunity for air combat maneuvring in a nearby airspace. That is a good opportunity to fly against craft like the Mirage 2000, which you do not get very often, Flying Officer Neumann stressed. One of our Tornado pilots had also the chance to take the back seat of the Mirage and gain valuable insights from a new perspective." After COMAO exercises under the auspices of Central Enterprise on Thursday, Friday and Monday, a Combat-SAR exercise was on the agenda for Tuesday 23 June, for many participants the most interesting part of the Tiger Meet. Some pilots, who had been shot down, were dropped down at the Ohrdruf-Range and then saved by a Puma-Helicopter of the 230th Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Many of us did not know how escorting during an operation like this is put into action, but the briefing by the British was excellent," Flying Officer Neumann informs us. In the evening there was a big farewell party during which the much-desired Silver Tiger Trophy was awarded to the participating squadron, "which displays the highest degree of professionalism and team spirit. This time the 21st Gruppo of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana from Cameri was the winner. As well as the performance during the exercises, the points gained throughout the competition of the ground crews and awarded for the more informal "Tiger Games" counted towards the trophy. According to Flying Officer Neuman one should not underestimate the importance of relaxed incidental program for the comradeship and better understanding among the crews. Therefore there was also an "International Night" on the program, a Black Tie Dinner, an excursion to Munich on Sunday and a "Bavarian Night". From page 46 of FLUG REVUE 8/98 Home | Update | LATEST ISSUE | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 8/98 Copyright 1998 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated July 13, 1998 FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany