RAF Typhoons developing tactical and leadership skills with Nato allies in Spain
Royal Air Force Typhoon crews are in Spain to take part in an exercise with Nato allies and partners to help develop their tactical and leadership skills.
Typhoons from 29 Squadron at RAF Coningsby are involved in the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP), a long-running initiative to improve the interoperability and effectiveness of allied air forces.
The three-week exercise consists of a one-week simulator phase followed by a two-week flying phase during which the participants are exposed to threats in realistic and challenging missions.
The TLP is a standalone organisation supported by the air forces of the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the US.
It provides a focal point for Nato allies and partners to develop tactical and leadership skills to face today's air security challenges.
The current exercise has seen the RAF work alongside forces from Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The deployment has provided experience of working in a multi-national environment at the operational level while also demonstrating the UK's commitment to the Tactical Leadership Programme.
During the exercise, the RAF team were visited by the King of Spain, King Felipe VI, and the British ambassador, Hugh Elliott.
'Fundamental' skill
Wing Commander Shaw, the Detachment Commander/Officer Commanding 29 Squadron, said: "This exercise provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and reassure them of our commitment to addressing shared security challenges.
"As 29 Sqn is the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit it rarely deploys. TLP has given our engineers and pilots a chance to practise working from an unfamiliar air base, a skill that is fundamental to the RAF in Agile Combat Employment.
"We have also exploited the good weather conditions in Spain to maximise the training benefit."
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