The 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment undergoes air combat training with the best NATO pilots

Sentinel radar being positioned (Photo: RAAA nº 73)

From 25 January to 5 February the 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment trained in air combat at Las Cánovas-Tentegorra (Murcia) as part of NATO’s Tactical Leadership Programme, which involves the best pilots in the Alliance.

The Programme consists of a four-week course aimed at qualifying air crews from NATO countries to lead COMAOs (Combined Air Operations) which incorporate different air platforms, each with a specific mission. It is targeted at expert pilots and aims at strengthening their capabilities as leaders of complex formations. Since June 2009, it is run from the Air Force Base in Albacete.

This highly specialised and demanding exercise has been a great training opportunity for the 73rd AAA Regt., which was able to increase the level of preparedness of the Fire Unit from the NASAMS 73rd/II Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group. That Unit took part in air defence exercises during which it had to defend a vital point from very low, low and medium altitude attacks in the context of a COMAO-type threat.

In addition, the 73rd/II Group had to confront the most state-of-the-art aircraft NATO countries are equipped with, such as F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, Eurofighters and Tornados, manned by the most highly qualified pilots.