Well, that time has come around again for the NATO Tiger Meet association to hold it’s annual “Tiger Meet” event. Squadrons across Europe that have Tiger emblems for their squadron badges or are associated with Tigers are invited to attend this two week training exercise which is hosted by a different air base each year, the base hosting must have links with Tiger squadrons to host. For 2025 it was Beja air base (BA11) in Portugal.

NATO Tiger Meet 2025 “NTM25” hosted around 1700 personnel from 12 allied nations, over 80 visiting aircraft/helicopters attending and ran from 22nd September to the 3rd October 2025. Typically Monday to Friday two waves of flying would operate from “BA11” a AM and a PM mission, each sortie flew around 50-60 aircraft, with different mission parameters each day.

As well as pilot training missions the “NTM25” also provided Aircraft Cross Servicing “ACS” which provides a central role in operational readiness with allied partners. This is designed to enhance air operation capabilities and directly support operation commanders. “ACS” provides guaranteed aircraft availability in scenarios that replicate real-world operations within NATO forces.

During the “NTM25” BA11 hosted two “Spotters Days” one each week and each event allowed over 150 photographers/enthusiasts to come onto base to closely observe and photograph the aircraft and their lovely “Tiger” paint schemes” that had been created specially for the event.

For this event, the participants consisted of representatives from :-

• 335 Mira Hellenic AF F-16C/D
• 12 Flotille French Navy Rafale M
• EHRA 3 French Army SA-342M
• 12 Gruppo Italian AF F-2000A
• 21 Gruppo Italian AF HH-101A
• TLG-51 German AF Tornado ECR
• 11 Staffel Swiss AF F/A-18C
• 142 Esc Spanish AF EF-2000
• 6elt Polish AF F-16C
• 211tl Czech AF JAS-39C
• 814 NAS Royal Navy Merlin HM2
• 1 AEW&C NATO E-3A
• Esq 301 “Home Sqn” Beja BA11 F-16A/B
• 4 Flotille French Navy E-2C 
• 4 RHC French Army Tigre & NH90TTH
• LTG62 German AF A400M
• MFG5 German Navy Super Lynx Mk88A
• Esq 506 “Home Sqn” KC-390
• Esq 552 “Home Sqn” AW119 
• Esq 601 “Home Sqn” P-3C
• Esq 751 “Home Sqn” EH101
• Esq 501 “Home Sqn” C-130H
• Esq Hel da Marinha “Home Sqn” Lynx Mk95
  

The Aviation Reporting team had a great few days at the “NTM25” for week 1 of this event, lots of flying, plenty of special paint schemes and full sun each day, what more can a photographer ask for?

Author: Mark Forest

Photography: Mark Forest, Steven Fenton and Michael Williams