The NATO Tiger Meet 2025 is already underway at Beja Air Base in Portugal, bringing together squadrons from several NATO countries for one of the alliance’s most iconic combat aviation traditions.
Among this year’s highlights is the 51st Tactical Squadron “Immelmann” (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 «Immelmann») of the German Air Force, which presented its electronic warfare aircraft Panavia Tornado ECR, tail number 46+38, in a special livery named “Desert Tiger.”
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A tradition of more than 60 years
The Tiger Meet is considered a hallmark of NATO combat aviation. At each edition, participating squadrons showcase exclusive and creative aircraft paintings, competing to see which design will stand out the most.
The tradition began in 1961, when the 79th Squadron of the U.S. Air Force invited the 74th Squadron of the RAF (United Kingdom) and the 1/12 of the French Air Force to a meeting in Woodbridge, England. At that time, the aircraft bore an emblem featuring a tiger – a symbol that became the exercise’s trademark.
Since then, the event has become an annual gathering and one of the most renowned in the military world, with a strong promotional character and fostering integration among the air forces of member countries.
Who can participate
The gathering is exclusive to NATO air units whose official emblem contains the figure of a tiger, reinforcing both visual identity and the spirit of camaraderie among squadrons.
With spectacularly decorated aircraft such as the Tornado ECR “Desert Tiger,” the Tiger Meet continues to captivate both military personnel and aviation enthusiasts.
Source and images: Instagram @51TigersSchleswig. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
