Support structures include an NATO "Airborne Warning And Control System" (AWACS) E3A, a German A310 supply aircraft, Italian 2 Euofighter, Swiss 4 F18, Spanish 2 F18, Turkish 2 F16, 2 Mirage 2000 Greek, and 2 HAWK Brits, 1 DA20 Spanish (Jammer), 2 SH3D helicopters of the Spanish Navy, 1 Puma helicopter of the Spanish Air Force, for a total of 52 aircraft between "Blue Air" and "Red Air", together with a war polygon simulator Polygone electronics and the frigate "Alvaro De Bazan" of the Spanish Navy.
The course also saw the participation of non-member countries of the TLP MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) such as Turkey, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, and was the most numerous in the history of the program.
The air force participated precisely with two Eurofighters of the 4º Stormo of Grosseto, two of the 36º Stormo of Gioia del Colle and two of the 37º Stormo of Trapani, two AMX of the 51º Stormo of Istrana, an interception controller of the Control Group Licola Air Defense and an intelligence officer always 51º Stormo.
The results achieved were excellent, both in terms of sprints and training objectives achieved. The crews and support staff were involved in the planning, conduct and execution of "Composite Air Operations" (COMAO) missions - Joint Air Operations, based on scenarios previously prepared and prepared by the TLP staff, to train the participants in the best use of their tactics. The level of challenge with which the participants confronted each other was high, also considering the level of "opposing forces" in support.
Also for the 2014-5 flight course, the participants benefited from the data transmitted by the Link-16 "workstations" made available by the Spanish air force, equipped with complex simulation capabilities that allow the TLP instructor staff to interact in real time and modify the scenario by maximizing the "desired learning objectives".
The Tactical Leadership Program (TLP), which since July 2009 is based at the Albacete air base in Spain, is an organization founded on the basis of a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) signed by 10 Nations (Italy, Spain, States United States, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Germany and Denmark). Italy joined the TLP as a signatory Nation in January 1996. Its mission is to improve the effectiveness of air operations conducted by the Allied Forces by promoting the development of assertive leadership skills and the skills of analysis, planning, execution and evaluation of "combined" air activities required of a "Mission Commander". The TLP actively collaborates with NATO on the basis of a "Letter of Agreement" signed by the two Organizations.
Source: AM - chap. Andrea Turris
