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 For NTM 2011 Polish Air Force F-16 Block 52 of the 6 Squadron from Poznan attended their first Tiger Meet, they were equipped with AIM-120, AIM-9X, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and Sniper pod. Not all went well for them however as one of their F-16's suffered engine damage on the first Friday and their missions were curtailed in the second week.
Helicopters also play a part in this predominantly fast jet exercise this year two nations flew rotary aircraft. The Italian Air Force were represented by 21° Gruppo, 9° Stormo based at Grazzanise, with their Agusta-Bell AB.212ICO helicopters. They were tasked with Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations with Special Forces support and Non-Combatant Evacuation operations. The Czech Air Force provided force protection with a pair of Mil Mi-35 'Hinds' from 221 Squadron based at Namest.
 For the first time in the Tiger Meet history, a unit of the Special Forces has been integrated to the exercise. The 1st Marines paratrooper regiment (1st RPIMA) from Bayonne operated a hundred kilometres away from Cambrai. Every day their mission was that of Close Air Support (CAS) using high-tech equipment including; Vector goggles to acquire GPS coordinates and multi-emission radios to liaise directly with pilots. A Master Sergeant with the 1st RPIMA explained; "On the field, we communicate with aircraft, indicating to them the threats they have to deal with. We guide them towards the targets. We are somehow the eyes of the pilots on the ground." He continued; "The Tiger Meet also allows us to attend the planning of the air operations, a phase where we learn a lot". The Special Forces used their expertise in varied scenarios of CSAR, including one of a simulated pilot ejection in a hostile territory.
Traditionally at least one aircraft from each attending squadron will be painted in a special colour scheme with tiger markings, some are painted in elaborate bright colours while others are more subtly painted in low-viz 'tiger' themed schemes. It was pointed out that the high-viz schemes do not affect their ability to conduct air-to-air operations as today's scenarios are mostly conducted Beyond Visual Range (BVR). The 'Tiger' spirit of camaraderie also spreads to the pilots and ground crew, helmets, clothing and equipment, all can be found to have black and gold tiger stripes applied, belying the serious nature of the exercise.
The first 'Tiger Squadron' meeting was in 1961 when the USAFE's 79th TFS flying F-100D Sabres from RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk invited the Lightning's from 74 Squadron at RAF Coltishall to their air base. For the following year's meeting French Air Force Super Mystere B2s from Cambrai were included, one of their former aircraft is on display on the air base. Since those early days the NATO Tiger Association as it became known has grown to 21 full members, plus two probationary and 11 honorary members. The Hellenic Air Force's Mira 335 based at Araxos arrived with their relatively new Lockheed F-16 Block 52M Fighting Falcons and were promoted to full member status. In later years NATO squadrons have been admitted with other large cat emblems apart from that of the traditional tiger, the Portuguese Air Force's Esquadra 301 for example are known as the 'Jaguares' and attended this year with General Dynamics F-16A MLU Fighting Falcons.
  After the end of flying operations on Thursday May 19 various 'Tiger Trophies' were awarded for six mostly frivolous team bonding categories, the Portuguese were the most successful scooping three, the 'Silver Tiger Trophy', the 'Best Flying Unit' and the 'Best Skit'. The Armée de l'Air's Escadron de Chasse et d'Expérimentation 05.330 from Mont-de-Marsan won the prize for the 'Best Looking Uniform'. The 'Most Fancy Paint Scheme' award was given to Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 from based at Schleswig-Jagel for their specially painted black Tornado IDS (45+51). Finally Fliegerstaffel 11 of the Swiss Air Force were the 'Tiger Games' winner. Many friendships were renewed during the exercise along with the serious aspect of forging close seamless working relationships within NATO.
Lieutenant Colonel Sébastien Vallette, Commander of the 1/12 Squadron was satisfied that the event went well. "The whole personnel from the "Cambrésis" fighter squadron can really be satisfied with the work they have achieved over the last few weeks. The exercise we were assigned was carried out well. We were able to come up to all the participants' expectations. The operational objectives have been reached and we gained a lot from the missions completed". He went on to say; "For fifty years, the Tigers community has been gathering every year for the most important joint and combined air exercise in Europe. For fifty years, the Tiger Spirit has been perpetuating around values like fraternity, bravery and respect. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger!"
Friday was departures day for the aircraft most leaving during the morning and the final exercise to be held at this historic air base had ended, Cambrai is scheduled to close in 2012 and the future of SPA 162 the original Tiger Squadron is uncertain. Next year's NATO Tiger Meet is already on the calendar, it is planned to run from May 28 to June 6, 2012 and is to be hosted by the Portuguese at Monte Real Air Base.
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Once a Tiger, always a Tiger! The 50th meeting of the NATO Tigers
