Beja (Portugal), October 13, 2025 — The 2025 edition of the renowned air exercise NATO Tiger Meet (NTM 2025) concluded recently, hosted this year by the Força Aérea Portuguesa at the Beja airbase. The event, which since 1960 has brought together flying units distinguished by the tiger symbol, represents one of the most prestigious occasions for multinational training and cooperation within the Atlantic Alliance.
A High-Profile Operational Exercise
The Tiger Meet has always been synonymous with interoperability and team spirit among allied air forces. The 2025 edition saw the participation of 79 aircraft, 19 units, and about 1,700 military personnel from 12 countries: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.
The training activities focused on COMAO (Composite Air Operations) missions, Close Air Support (CAS), and Personnel Recovery (PR) in hostile environments.
Through complex and realistic scenarios, the crews were able to test and improve the synergy between fixed-wing, rotary-wing assets, and support systems, a key element for the effectiveness of modern operations in multi-domain contexts.
The Importance of the Tiger Meet for NATO Cooperation
Beyond the operational component, the exercise maintains a strong symbolic and identity value. The “tigers” of the various units represent a network of elite units that share experiences, traditions, and common values, in a context that promotes professional growth and exchange of skills.
The main objective is to strengthen cohesion and interoperability among allied forces, contributing to NATO's collective operational readiness.
As usual, Italy played a significant role thanks to the participation of two prestigious units of the Aeronautica Militare:
- the XII Gruppo Volo of the 36° Stormo Caccia in Gioia del Colle (BA), with Eurofighter Typhoon fighters;
- the 21° Gruppo Volo of the 9° Stormo in Grazzanise (CE), with HH-101 Caesar helicopters.
Both units presented aircraft in “Special Color” livery dedicated to the event: a Typhoon decorated with a white tiger and green-gold motifs inspired by the 351ª Squadriglia “Tigri Bianche” of Gioia del Colle, and an HH-101 adorned with a roaring tiger celebrating the tradition of the 21° Gruppo.
The color schemes, besides being a symbol of belonging, represent the pride and creativity that have always characterized the Tiger Meet, transforming the exercise into a showcase of aeronautical art and military tradition.
A Positive Outcome
The Tiger Meet 2025 once again confirmed its strategic importance as a platform for cooperation and training for NATO air forces. The high level of integration achieved among the participating units testifies to the effectiveness of the Alliance's training model, based on esprit de corps, professionalism, and interoperability.
The next edition of the Tiger Meet will take place in 2026 at another European base, continuing the long tradition of this event that unites, under the sign of the tiger, air forces from around the world.
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