Cool Cats! by Chris Muir & Tony Osborne

This year’s NATO Tiger Meet (NTM), conducted under the exercise name “Arctic Tiger 2007,” took place in Norway at the end of September. It was the first time that the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), and 338 Squadron in particular, had hosted this annual event, spectacular for the variety of participating aircraft and their special “Tiger” markings.

The main operational focus for Arctic Tiger 2007 was the integration of Helicopter, Transport and Fighter assets in a high threat environment while conducting Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions.

Arctic Tiger 2007 was held at Main Air Station Ørland, one of two Main Air Stations in Norway. The base is situated at the mouth of the Trondheimsfjord, north-west of Trondheim, in the center of Norway. Operated by the RnoAF’s 138th Air Wing, MAS Ørland is home to one squadron of F-16s and a detachment of SAR Sea Kings. It is also an operating location for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) E-3As. Being held at the northern edge of Europe, the exercise gave participants a unique opportunity to practise flying in adverse weather and mountainous terrain. The airspace available for the exercises to the north of Ørland was twice the size of Denmar, while that to the south was the size of Belgium.

Hosting the exercise was not without its challenges, according to Major Øivind Wathne from the 138th Wing. “In many ways hosting this exercise was routine, as we've hosted other large-scale exercises through the years. The NATO Air Meet has, for instance, been hosted by MAS Ørland five times. The large difference is that for Tiger Meet 2007, MAS Ørland had complete responsibility for every aspect of the exercise: scenarios, planning conferences, operations, visitors’ accommodation, command and control, et cetera. This was a great challenge but was also of great value, as we could blame no others than ourselves if something went wrong. We think that we, for the first time, have been able to show our true qualifications in running large scale and complex exercises involving several countries with quite different cultures and ways of doing things. I also think that we were able to show all participants that Ørland is a unique training area for large air exercises, maybe one of few remaining ones in Europe these days.”

Origin of the NATO Tigers

Arctic Tiger 2007

Within the overall exercise scenario, an independent, daily scenario allowed for the full integration of all air elements regardless of their role, and co-ordination of joint training. Norwegian and NATO land and maritime forces were directly involved in Arctic Tiger 2007, making it a truly combined and joint multinational exercise.

The first day of air operations was devoted to a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation to rescue United Nations hostages. Ground forces, including a sizeable Special Forces element, were air-dropped from C-130s and flown in by helicopter to conduct the rescue while other air assets provided close air support. The second day’s activities were dominated by a MEDEVAC operation for military and civilian casualties. This event generated a considerable amount of media attention and local interest, as Scandinavian Airlines System provided a specially equipped Boeing 737 for part of the operation. Day three was largely devoted to a large scale CSAR mission to retrieve downed aircrew, which allowed the rotary wing crews to hone their skills. On the final day, full scale tactical operations were launched using all available assets to impose the NATO peacekeeping mandate.

All flying operations were overseen by a NATO Boeing E-3 Sentry, which monitored the ever-changing scenario and kept the participants updated. The E-3 was normally the first aircraft to depart Ørland, in order to be ‘on station’ and ready for tasking prior to the first launch of the ‘fast movers’. It was occasionally followed by support aircraft such as RNoAF’s Dassault DA20 Falcons of 717 Skv and C-130s of 335 Skv. The sizeable helicopter force, consisting of five Norwegian Bell 412s, two RAF Westland Puma HC.1s, and a Fleet Air Arm Westland Merlin HM.1 for assault airlift, would collectively depart Ørland shortly thereafter for the pre-assigned Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) close to the Forward Line of Troops (FLOT). These assets were generally supported by the pair of Czech Mil Mi-24V Hinds.

The full scale Combined Air Operations (COMAO), designed to provide overwhelming force and purpose against any perceived threat from Loke or Fenris, involved the mass launch of more than 50 fast jets. Mission packages were assembled to practice conventional ground attack, including close air support, as well as air superiority. No weapons were carried, as all engagements and aerial attacks were simulated.

The last day of exercise flying culminated with the largest ever planned COMAO mission. For some participants, on-station times were prolonged by aerial refueling from a USAF tanker. As a result, some missions were in excess of three hours long. This precluded a second afternoon launch for individual unit training, which had been a feature of every other programmed flying day.

Enthusiast’s Day

NTM 07 Awards

A Successful Exercise?

NTM 2008 is due to be held at Lechfeld, Germany. However operational commitments currently prevent the station from committing to host the event. Options are being sought by the NTA committee to ensure that this great annual event is able to continue – watch this space!

Acknowledgements: Thanks to all at MAS Ørland, particularly Maj Wathne, and also to NATO Tiger Association PAO Mark Attrill for the organization of the enthusiasts day as well as assistance with this article.

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