Exercise Reports
Galileo SAR Meet 2025
The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) meet returned to European aviation calendars in 2025. The Czech Republic’s 243rd Helicopter Squadron (243. vrtulníková letka, 243.vrl) played host to the meet, held from the 4th to 8th August at Prague’s Kbely AFB. AeroResource’s Nicholas Thompson travelled to Czechia to attend the media day, providing the opportunity to witness the culmination of the meet’s flying challenges.
Falcon Spring 2025
Falcon Spring is the Dutch Army’s annual training exercise for the 11th Airmobile Brigade (11th AMB), the Netherlands’ specialised rapid-response light infantry unit. The exercise brings together the 11th AMB and the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) to conduct intensive training in air assault, air manoeuvre, and joint combat operations. AeroResource’s Nicholas Thompson spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Sander, Commander of DHC’s 298 Squadron about his year’s edition, with images by Paul Thompson, who captured one of the exercise’s air assault missions at Ossesluis (De Wijk).
Ten Tors 2025
Blessed with fine weather on the Saturday; less so on the Sunday, the 2025 Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge events held over the northern half of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon over the weekend of May 11-12, 2025 was attempted by approximately 2,400 teenagers aged between 14 and 19 years old plus a further 400 teenagers and young adults with disabilities. Ian Harding/AeroResource takes a look at this incredible event with images provided by Mark Empson/AeroResource and Kevin Wills.
Ramstein Flag 2025
Held from March 31-April 11, 2025 across Northern Europe, Ramstein Flag aimed to demonstrate NATO's ability to implement and execute what is termed its ‘Deter and Defend’ concept across its member countries. The Exercise is part of the ‘Flag’ exercise series with the inaugural Ramstein Flag held at Andravida Air Base in Greece back in 2024 with this year’s edition hosted by the Royal Netherlands Air Force at its Leeuwarden Air Base. Ian Harding reports on the exercise with supporting images from Ian, Wes Bushell, Nick Thompson and Mark Empson.
Cobra Warrior 2025-1
For many years, Lincolnshire has resonated to fast jet activity and so it was again with Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-1 planned and coordinated from RAF Waddington from February 24 to March 14, 2025. AeroResource’s Ian Harding provides a brief overview of this major international UK led exercise which since from 2022 has become a two-part spring and autumnal exercise.
NATO Tiger Meet 2024
After a 10-year absence Germany played host to the 2024 edition of the NATO Tiger Meet (NTM). Like the meet of 2014, hosting duties fell with Schleswig AB and specifically Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann” (TLG 51) who opened their arms to the member units of the NATO Tiger Association (NTA). AeroResource were on hand in the variable north German weather for the 2 spotter days hosted by the NTA and TLG 51 to witness the exercise in full swing.
Iniochos 2024
From April 8-18, 2024, the skies above Andravida Air Base in the northwest of the Peloponnese, Greece reverberated to the sound of fast jets from the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and a coalition of aircraft from elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East participating in Exercise Iniochos 2024. Ian Harding [...]
Royal Navy Dauphin – FOST Mission Support
A familiar sight in skies above Cornwall and Devon but less so elsewhere, AeroResource considers the unique and specialised operations of the FOST Dauphin helicopter which performs an important role on behalf of the Royal Navy. For those living in the United Kingdom’s most western counties, the sight of Hawk [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2023
Held in Konya, central Türkiye, since 2001, Anatolian Eagle exercises have always been well attended, both by participating nations from around the world and aviation enthusiasts alike. 2023’s edition was no exception with visiting participants including Azerbaijan and Pakistan drawing in plenty of enthusiasts to capture the action. This year’s [...]
NATO Tiger Meet 2018 Spotters Day
For aviation enthusiasts, the annual Tiger Meet exercise is one of the most anticipated military gatherings held in Europe thanks to a wide array of participating aircraft and more often than not the special schemes that are applied to them for the event. For NATO Tiger Meet 2018, it was [...]
Exercise Red Flag Alaska 17-2
Found 110 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Eielson Air Force Base was a hive of activity between June 8 and 23 2017 with pilots, maintainers and support staff from four air arms descending on the site for Exercise Red Flag Alaska 17-2 (RF-A 17-2). With participants from the United States [...]
Exercise Red Flag 17-1
Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada one of those 'meccas' for military aviation and on a number of occasions each year and, if you are an aviator or an enthusiast, it is very much the place to be for Exercise Red Flag. Kevin Bell provides this [...]
NATO Tiger Meet 2016
Between May 16 and 27, Ala 15 of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) hosted this years edition of the annual NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) at their Zaragoza Air Base home. Two years have passed since the Ejército del Aire made firm its proposal to organise the ‘meet’ at [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2016
Large multi-national air exercises where combined air operations can be executed against strategic and tactical targets provide excellent training opportunities for all participants, but the requirements to host this type of exercise are such that there are only three training centres in the world where they can take place. Of [...]
Exercise Joint Warrior 16-1
Running from April 11-22, Exercise Joint Warrior 16-1 was the latest installment of the long running "wargame" held in the UK. With just 30 ships being involved from 15 nations, this edition of the bi-annual exercise was - in terms of naval assets at least - smaller in comparison to [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2015-1
The annual international Anatolian Eagle exercise held at Turkey's Konya air base took place in early/mid June against a backdrop of continued fighting against ISIL in Syria and Iraq, the conflict in Yemen between Shiite Houthi rebels and pro-government forces along with the constant unease in Libya. With so much [...]