Article - Tactical Leadership Programme - 2014

Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP)

HISTORY

During the cold war seven NATO nations shared the West German airspace in a defensive cold war posture, ready to take action at any time. They recognised the need for joint operations, the need to train together and the need to generate leaders for challenging multinational air defence and air strike missions.

With this aim in mind, in January 1978, the signatory nations Belgium, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, UK and the USA formed the AAFCE TLP at the German Air Force base of Fürstenfeldbruck. Early TLP courses took the form of a two week seminar where aircrew discussed and formulated NATO tactics, techniques and procedures.

In September 1979 TLP moved to Jever AB in Northern Germany where the course length was extended to four weeks in order to include a flying phase. TLP, part of the NATO organization took the task to train flight leads to be qualified to plan, brief and conduct multinational combat air patrol missions employing mixed force fighter formations and to lead multinational counter air operation strike packages. When TLP ceased the operation in Jever at the end of 1988, 71 flying courses had been completed and nearly 2000 NATO aircrew had graduated.

Since TLP staff had been selected from the most experienced and respected airborne leaders in their own air forces, by the end of the cold war, TLP had grown to be the European center of excellence in all matters related to coalition force air operations.Therefore it was unquestionable to the TLP nations that the Tactical Leadership Programme would play an important role after the cold war.

In March 1989 TLP moved to the Belgian Air Force Base at Florennes, where the staff, the task and the area of responsibility was expanded. Two branches were added and aside from flying courses, TLP started to instruct allied forces in academic courses and began writing NATO doctrine related to tactical air operations. Starting as a Central Region organization with the mission to defend the inner German border, TLP adapted new challenges, preparing the future tactical leaders to be ready for conflicts that could take place in any geographic location all around the globe.

The number of nations participating in TLP Flying and Academic courses and joining the program increased. Aside from the member nations, other countries, including some non-NATO allies, began regularly sending military specialists to TLP to be trained in all the skills related to tactical air operations. By 2012 more than 7000 aircrew have participated in TLP flying courses.

As the NATO focus has shifted away from a potential conflict in central Europe, TLP needed a training area that is representative of the theaters of potential future conflicts. With the dawn of the new century, TLP member nations then started investigating new and more favorable locations for TLP to cope with the challenge of growing air traffic congestion in Central Europe. The TLP choice was ALBACETE Air Base in South East Spain, blessed with some of Europe’s most favorable meteorological conditions and a large airspace structure. Equipped with modern infrastructure, including a purpose-built 500 bed accommodation lodge, full dining and recreation facilities, a modern aircraft repair hangar and logistic storage facilities

In the summer of 2009 a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which positioned TLP outside of the NATO structure and was signed by the 10 participating nations (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States of America). During November 2009 TLP moved from Florennes AB, Belgium to the sunny region of Albacete Spain.

Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP)

This prepares NATO allied coalition forces for worldwide tactical air operations.

TLP is formed under a Memorandum of Understanding between these 10 NATO nations and, although not part of the NATO structure, it is linked to NATO via a Letter of Agreement.

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,

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.

Course's and objectives

Composite Air Operations Course (COMAO)

The objective of the TLP, COMAO academic course is to enhance the ability of selected aircrew members to effectively integrate the various attack/support components within a package, plan tactics which best consider the capabilities and limitations of each system, communicate the plan, assemble the package and brief a composite attack force mission. The Course is focused on Tactical Leadership and COMAO mission planning.

Intel support to Composite Air Operations

The course aims to enhance the participant’s skills required to provide intelligence support to Composite Air Operations (COMAO). In order to achieve this objective, the course focuses on analytic skills and advanced intelligence topics featuring threat, tactics, and target analysis. Additionally, participants will have an opportunity to apply what they learn in a realistic training environment. The course is mainly focused on Intel support to fixed wing fighter aircraft in COMAO.

Flying Course

The TLP COMAO Flying Course aims to improve the tactical leadership skills and flying capabilities of front line fighter mission commanders, to improve the tactical interoperability of NATO Air Forces through exposure to tactics and capabilities of other air forces and to provide a flying laboratory for tactical employment concepts.

The course also enables a free exchange of information on weapons, tactics and capabilities between the participating nations. By providing an environment that encourages the discussion and development of multi-national tactics, participants find the best way to employ the differing aircraft capabilities of the multi-national forces in Composite Air Operations (COMAO).

Combat Search and Rescue

The Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) course will lay the foundation for knowledge and understanding of CSAR Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures. The course aims to provide a broad awareness of COMAO CSAR to tactical operators, in order to prepare them to integrate into future operations and exercises. Motto "that others may live"

Participating Aircraft

TLP 2014-5 15/09/2014 to 10/10/2014

M-2000N x2 AdlA/EC02.004

EF-2000 x3 4 Stormo

EF-2000 x3 36 Stormo

EF-2000 x3 37 Stormo

AMX x2 51 Stormo

L-159A x4 CzAF 212/tl

F/A-18A x7 462 Esc

EF-18M x3 Ala 12

EF-2000 x6 Ala 14

M-2000EG x4 331 Mira