North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
May 4, 2015
Exercise Lion Effort 2015 set to begin in the Czech Republic
Exercise Lion Effort 2015 gets underway later this month at 21st Tactical Air Force Base Čáslav in the Czech Republic. The event is organised by nations that use the Gripen.
From 11 to 24 May 2015, Lion Effort 2015 will bring together Gripen user nations and several other NATO nations to conduct live flying training. They will train with Czech Air Force fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft as well as an anti-aircraft missile regiment.
The JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, taking part in Lion Effort, are from NATO allies Hungary and the Czech Republic and NATO partner Sweden. The Czech Republic will also fly L-159 light fighter aircraft, CASA transport aircraft as well as Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-171 transport helicopters. All these assets will be deployed at Čáslav for the exercise.
German Typhoon Eurofighter jets and Polish F-16s fighters will support Lion Effort flying from their respective home bases. A NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) platform will assist with command and control operating in Poland. Thailand, whose air force also operates the Gripen, will be taking part in an observer role only.
During the exercise participating aircraft will be flying Composite Air Operations, so-called COMAOs, in two waves – one in the morning and a SHADOW wave (Basic Fighter manoeuvring) in the evening. Packages of jets will conduct air-to-air training of Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures that allow them to practice cooperation and to operate alongside each other.
“It is an honour for the Czech Air Force to host this year’s Lion Effort which also marks ten years of flying the JAS-39 Gripen in our air forces,” says Brigadier General Libor Štefánik, the Commander of the Czech Air Force.
“Having NATO allies and partner nations flying together is a great opportunity. The air and ground crews will learn from each other and further improve their interoperability. I am looking forward to safe flying operations and successful events with our Allies and Partners and last, but by no means least, with our population who will be joining us on 23 May for an Open Day and Air Show,” Brigadier General Štefánik added.
Story by Captain Tomáš Maruščák, Czech Air Force
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