Pumas Are Admitted into NATO Tiger Association

So far, the aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces have participated in Tiger Meet exercises on two occasions. The JAS 39 Gripen fighters of the Kecskemét Puma Squadron were training in Belgium in 2009 and in the Netherlands in 2010.

Exercise Tiger Meet 2014 is hosted by the Schleswig-Jagel Air Base in Germany, where the nominated personnel – 42 airmen – from the HDF 59th “Szentgyörgyi Dezső" Air Base are participating with five Gripens and An–26 logistic support. This year the Hungarians have been granted full membership, so from now on – among 22 other members – the Puma Squadron of the HDF 59th “Szentgyörgyi Dezső" Air Base has voting right in decisions about the future of the association, concerning issues such as the admission of new members or the selection of the next host unit.

During the 2014 exercise, Hungarian pilots are practicing tasks which would not be possible to execute in the airspace of Hungary. They fly over sea, in international formations and carry out important tactical missions as well. The squadrons invited to the exercise all have some “tiger" head in their squadron crests. This year, the participants come from the following countries: the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Norway, Greece, Portugal and Hungary.

Photo: Dániel Tófalvi