TLP FC 26-03 Gets Underway

The Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) has launched its third flying course of 2026, bringing together a multinational force of fighters, support aircraft and ground-based air defence assets for several weeks of advanced tactical training.

Around 600 personnel are expected to participate in FC 26-03, with 34 flight crew, intelligence officers and tactical air traffic controllers ultimately graduating from the course. The opening phase is focused on academic instruction and MACE simulator training, before flying operations commence on 28 September.

The exercise will put around 32 fighters into the air. The Blue force will field Eurofighters from Germany, Italy and Spain, Turkish F-16s and French Mirage 2000D, Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale fighters. Opposing them in the Red Air role will be aircraft drawn from France, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

The increasingly complex training environment will be supported by a NATO E-3 AWACS, Spanish Command and Control assets, an MQ-9 Predator B and a German Jamkite electronic warfare aircraft. Ground-based threats will include German Army Roland systems, Spanish Mistral, NASAMS and Skyguard units, alongside Indra electronic warfare threat simulators.

Combat search and rescue scenarios will add a further dimension, with a US NH-60 helicopter and extraction team participating alongside a Spanish C295 and a SAR helicopter maintained at readiness at San Javier.

Article to be updated as the exercise progresses.