Preparing for the NATO Tiger Meet Exercise
Text: defence.hu | Photo: HDF 101st Aviation Wing | 12:18 April 27, 2026As of 4 May, the HDF 101st Aviation Wing will be representing the Hungarian Defence Forces with JAS 39 Gripens at Araxon Air Base, Greece during the NATO Tiger Meet 2026, one of the best-known international exercises of air forces.
Its characteristic is that the squadron names/emblems of participating air force units feature a tiger or some other big cat in some form. For us, this will not be the first occasion: besides professional flying missions, a key objective of the “big cats” exercise is to develop cooperation on the ground and in the air.
Following the traditions, the air squadrons are to deploy with tiger-themed ceremonial paintings on their aircraft, which they will fly together on composite air operations (COMAOs).
Altogether five JAS 39 Gripens are going to fly to the exercise. Our pilots and ground crew are preparedly waiting for the challenge.
