Tactical Leadership Programme 2025-3

TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

The Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) was created in the cold war era in 1978 to foster and develop practices and experiences of joint operations for the seven NATO nations sharing German air space. The six signatory nations, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, UK and USA, formed the TLP at Fürstenfeldbruck in Germany.

Initially the course was two weeks long and focussed on NATO tactics, techniques and procedures. In 1979 the TLP relocated to Jever in Germany and the course expanded to four weeks including a flying phase. The course expansion included the aim of training flight leads qualified to plan, brief and conduct multinational combat missions. When TLP ceased operations at Jever in 1988, 71 courses had been held and 2,000 NATO aircrew had graduated. At this point, the TLP represented a centre of excellence in all matters related to coalition force air operations.

1989 the TLP relocated to Florennes in Belgium where the programme was further expanded to include instructing Allied forces in academic courses, writing doctrine related to tactical air operations and expanding focus beyond Germany to encompass operations in any theatre. The number of nations participating increased and also involved non NATO countries. By the end of 2012, over 7,000 aircrew had participated in the flying courses.

The result of this expansion required an even larger training area that was representative of the likely theatre of future conflicts as well as avoiding the heavy air traffic in central Europe. A new memorandum was signed in 2009 by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherland, Spain, UK and the USA and in 2010 the TLP relocated to Albacete in Spain. In 2024 Portugal also signed as a member.

With the mission of increasing the effectiveness of Allied Air Forces through development of leadership skills, mission planning, briefing, tactical air operations and debriefing skills and conceptual and doctrinal initiatives, the TLP is committed to the following tasks:

• Preparation of NATO and allied forces flight leaders to be Mission Commanders to lead coalition force air strike packages.
• Instruction of allied flying and non-flying personnel in all matters related to tactical composite air operations.
• Introduction of new NATO partners and allies to NATO tactical air operations.
• Provision of tactical air expertise to NATO agencies.

TLP commits to these tasks by training and instructing allied personnel in flying and academic courses and providing an international forum to discuss tactical issues.

TLP 2025-3 ran from 11^th September to 3^rd October

Based participants:

Rafale M from 12F Landivisiau, France

Falcon 10MER from 57S Landivisiau, France

Rafale C from EC01005 Orange, France and EC02030 Mont de Marsan, France

F-16C from 341 Mira Nea Anchialos, Greece

F-35A from 102 & 154 Gruppo from Ghedi, Italy

AV-8B+ from GRUPAER Grottaglie, Italy & F-35B from 13 Gruppo & GRUPAER Amendola, Italy

EF2000 from Ala 11 Moron, Spain

EF-18M from Ala 12 Torrejon, Spain & Ala 15 Zaragoza, Spain

External participants

E-3F from EDCA01036 Avord, France

P-72A from 88 Gruppo Sigonella, Italy

MH-60R from HSM79 Rota, Spain