The NATO Tiger Meet 2022 air exercise organized this year by the Greek Air Force and attended by Flight Units of different nations belonging to the NATO Tiger Association (NTA) ended on Friday 20 May 2022, in Araxos, Greece.
An exercise of great importance that, as per tradition, saw the meeting of different structures, traditions and cultures able to develop and strengthen esprit de corps, cooperation and operational experiences, in line with the primary purposes of the Atlantic Alliance.
In the weeks from 09 to 20 May 2022, pilots from numerous NATO air departments trained to improve interoperability between participating assets, carrying out composite air operations (COMAO). An international scenario where it was possible to share training and operational experience to maximize the integration between the flight departments.
In detail, the XII Flight Group of the 36th Italian Fighter Wing, protagonist of the last edition with the victory of the prestigious “Silver Tiger Trophy”, a recognition that is conferred to the Flight Group that stands out most during the event, participated with five Eurofighter 2000 Typhoon aircraft, among which, a “Special Color” version. The “brindle” commemorative livery recalls the 351st “White Tigers” Squadron, one of the four operating at the XII Flight Group.
The 36th Fighter Wing, which depends on the Italian Air Squad Command through the Combat Forces Command, is one of the Air Force Air Defense Wings that ensures the surveillance of the national airspace 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with an integrated defense system, since peacetime, with that of the other countries belonging to NATO.
There are 5 Air Force Wings that ensure national air defense and NATO Quick Reaction Alert service : four equipped with Eurofighter assets (the 4th Wing of Grosseto, the 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle, the 37th Wing of Trapani and the 51st Wing of Istrana) and one of F35A aircraft (32nd Wing of Amendola).
The Air Defense system also includes two operating rooms: the 11th DAMI Group of Poggio Renatico (FE) and the 22nd DAMI Group of Licola (NA), both dependent on the Integrated Air Missile Defense Department (DAMI) of the Aerospace Control Brigade of the Aerospace Operations Command (COA). From the two operating rooms, through radar signals that come from a network of sensors located throughout the national territory (Remote Radar Squadrons), the surveillance and fighter-guide controllers operate every day of the year, night and day, to ensure the defense of Italian airspace and guide the Air Defense assets, providing the information necessary to intercept potential air threats.
