NATO Tiger Association

The NATO Tiger Association or the Association of Tiger Squadrons was established in 1961. Promoted by French Defence minister Pierre Messmer, its role is to promote solidarity between NATO air forces. However, it is not part of the formal NATO structure.

NATO Tiger Association logo

A Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter of 336 squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force during a 'Tiger Meet' in 2007. Tiger Meet aircraft are often painted in 'Tiger stripes'

A German Eurofighter Typhoon of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 at the 'Tiger Meet' in 2014

A Czech Mil Mi-24 "Alien Tiger" of the 221st Helicopter Squadron at the 'Tiger Meet' in 2016

Tail fin of a Swiss Air Force Fliegerstaffel 11 F/A-18C Hornet

A Super Étendard of the Flottille 11F of the French Navy during a 'Tiger Meet' in 2007

Spanish EF-18AM Hornet at Tiger Meet at Zaragoza Air Base, 2016

The 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) of the United States Air Forces in Europe took the initiative and on 19 July 1961, they invited No. 74 Squadron RAF and EC (Fighter Squadron) 1/12 Cambresis of the French Armée de l'air to RAF Woodbridge in England. France was then a full military member of NATO. ^[1]

Capitain Michael Dugan of the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) searched for another squadrons in all European NATO air forces. He managed to find 5 new squadrons, the second meeting in 1962 with 8 squadrons participating. ^[1]

As of May 2025, the squadrons included in the Association are 24 full members, 9 honorary members, 1 probationary member, 8 disbanded members and 4 former members. All members of the Association of Tiger Squadrons have a tiger as part of their squadron crests.^[2]

As well as being opportunities for NATO air forces to share ideas and experiences, the 'Tiger Meets' are also public relations exercises for NATO. NATO aircraft are often brightly painted with tiger stripes.

Members

The following 24 squadrons are full members of the association.

• Austrian Air Force
  • 1 Jet Training Squadron
  • 2. Squadron/Fighter Wing
• Belgian Air Force
  • 31 Smaldeel
• Czech Air Force
  • 211. taktická letka (211th Tactical Squadron)
  • 221. vrtulníková letka (221st Helicopter Squadron)
• French Air Force
  • Escadron de Chasse et d'Expérimentation 1/30 'Cote d'Argent'
  • Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine
• French Navy
  • Flottille 11F
• German Air Force
  • Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (Tactical Air Force Wing 51)
  • Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 "Bavarian Tigers" (Tactical Air Force Wing 74)
• Hellenic Air Force
  • 335 Squadron "Tigers"
• Hungarian Air Force
  • 59/1 Squadron^[3]
• Italian Air Force
  • XII Gruppo
  • 21 Gruppo (387th and 388th Flights)
• NATO (NATO Airborne Early Warning Force)
  • Squadron 1
• Royal Netherlands Air Force
  • 313 Squadron
• Polish Air Force
  • 6 Squadron^[3]
• Portuguese Air Force
  • Esquadra 301 "Jaguares"
• Swiss Air Force
  • Fliegerstaffel 11
• Spanish Air Force
  • 142 Escuadrón
  • Ala 15
• Turkish Air Force
  • 192'nci Kaplan Filo
• Royal Air Force
  • 230 Squadron
• Royal Navy
  • 814 Naval Air Squadron

Honorary members

• Royal Canadian Air Force
  • 439 CSS
• Indian Air Force
  • 1 Squadron
• Slovak Air Force
  • 1 Lt (Bojova letka)
• United States Air Force
  • 37th Bomb Squadron
  • 79th Fighter Squadron
  • 120th Fighter Squadron
  • 391st Fighter Squadron
  • 393rd Bomb Squadron
• United States Air National Guard
  • 141st Air Refueling Squadron
• United States Navy
  • VP-8

Probationary members

• none

Former members

Members of the NATO Tiger Association until their disbanding by their respective organization.

• Aufklärungsgeschwader 52 (German Air Force)
• Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (disbanded March 2013)^[3]
• Jagdbomberstaffel 431 (German Air Force)
• Escadron de Chasse 1/12 (French Air Force)
• Escadron de Chasse 1/7 "Provence" (French Air Force)
• 336 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force
• 74 (F) Squadron, RAF (disbanded 2000)
• 53rd Fighter Squadron, USAF
• 338 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force (disbanded 2018)^[4]

Tiger Meets

The most publicly visible aspect of the NATO Tiger Association are the annual Tiger Meets, during which member squadrons gather for exercises, conferences, and public relations.

Event	Dates	Location	Host	Silver Tiger	Units	Ref
1961	19–20 July	RAF Woodbridge	79 TFS		3	[5]
1962	22–25 August	RAF Woodbridge	79 TFS		8	[6]]
1963	27–30 August	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel		8	[7]
1964	9–15 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		8	[8]
1965	14–18 August	Bitburg	53 TFS		8	[9]
1966	5–9 July	RAF Leuchars	74 (F) Sqn		8	[10]
1967	29 May – 2 June	Leck Air Base	AG 52		7	[11]
1968	16–20 August	CAFB Lahr	439 TFS		8	[12]
1969	4–8 July	RAF Woodbridge	79 TFS		8	[13]
1970	6–11 June	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel		8	[14]
1971	14–21 June	RAF Upper Heyford	Jagdbomberstaffel 431		9	[15]
1972	12–19 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		9	[16]
1973	16–22 June	Cameri	21 Gruppo		10	[17]
1974	25 June – 1 July	Bitburg	53 TFS		9	[18]
1975	3–9 August	Leck	AG 52		9	[19]
1976	31 May – 4 June	Baden-Soellingen	439 TFS		9	[20]
1977	22–28 June	RAF Greenham Common	79 TFS	439 TFS	11	[21]
1978	19–26 June	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	31 Smaldeel	13	[22]
1979	18–25 June	BA Cambrai	EC 1/12	439 TFS	13	[23]
1980	9–16 June	Cameri	21 Gruppo	Esq 301	14	[24]
1981	12–15 June	Bitburg	53 TFS	439 TFS	8	[25]
1982	26–30 August	Gütersloh	230 Sqn	Fliegerstaffel 11	12	[26]
1983	10–16 June	Baden-Soellingen	439 TFS	JaboSt 431	12	[27]
1984	13–20 August	Leck	AG 52	31 Smaldeel	13	[28]
1985	1–8 July	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	Esq 301	13	[29]
1986	8–16 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12	53 TFS	18	[30]
1987	23–30 June	Montijo	Esq 301	Jagdbomberstaffel 431	18	[31]
1988	5–12 July	Cameri	21 Gruppo	74 (F) Sqn	14	[32]
1990	12–17 August	RAF Upper Heyford	79 TFS	79 TFS	13	[33]
1991	17–21 July	RAF Fairford	RIAT	53 TFS	16	[34]
1992	14–22 May	Albacete	142 Esc	EC 1/12	15	[35]
1993	8–13 August	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	79 TFS	10	[36]
1994	3–10 May	Cambrai	EC 1/12	31 Smaldeel	19	[37]
1996	21–29 May	Beja	Esq 301	31 Smaldeel	15	[38]
1997	16–21 July	RAF Fairford	RIAT	31 Smaldeel	24	[39]
1998	15–26 June	Lechfeld	JaboSt 321	21 Gruppo	18	[40]
2001	18–24 June	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	EC 1/12	18	[41]
2002	28 June – 9 July	Beja	Esq 301	221 LtBVr	19	[42]
2003	2–8 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12	31 Smaldeel	13	[43]
2004	30 August – 6 September	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	JaboSt 321	14	[44]
2005	2–9 May	Balikesir	192 Filo	230 Sqn	11	[45]
2006	25 September – 2 October	Albacete	142 Esc	EC 1/12	13	[46]
2007	23 September – 1 October	Ørland	338 Skv	31 Smaldeel	18	[47]
2008	22 – 29 June	Landivisiau	Flottille 11F	Fliegerstaffel 11	19	[48]
2009	14–25 September	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	EC 1/12	18	[49]
2010	4–15 October	Volkel	313 Sqn.	211th Sqn	18	[50]
2011	9–20 May	Cambrai	EC 1/12	Esq 301	19	[51]
2012	29 May – 8 June	Ørland	338 Skv	31 Smaldeel	17	[52]
2013	17–28 June	Ørland	338 Skv	TLG 51	19	[53]
2014	16–27 June	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	Fliegerstaffel 11	16	[54]
2015	4–16 May	Konya	192 Filo	21 Gruppo	13	[55]
2016	16–27 May	Zaragoza	Ala 15	31 Smaldeel	22	[56]
2017	5–16 June	Landivisiau	Flottille 11F	31 Smaldeel	20	[57]
2018	14–25 May	Poznań	6 ELT	313 Sqn.	22	[58]
2019	13–24 May	Mont-de-Marsan	EC 3/30	Esq 301	18	[59]
2021	2–14 May	Beja	Esq 301	12° Gruppo	8	[60]
"XT-Roar-dinary Tiger Event" 2021	7–14 September	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	Event cancelled due to Covid-19		[61]
2022	9–20 May	Araxos	335 Mira	EC 3/30	10	[62]
2023	2–13 October	Gioia Del Colle	12° Gruppo	TaktLwG 74	18	[63]
2024	3-13 June	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	6 ELT	14	[64]
2025	21 September - 6 October	Beja	Esq 301	TBD		[65]

Bibliography

• Heuvel, Coen van den & Tuyn, Jac van. Tiger Meet, the 25th Anniversary 'NATO' Tiger Meet, Osprey, 1986, 978-0-8504-5703-2.