Sweden has formally joined the Tactical Leadership Program (TLP), which offers advanced tactical training for aircrews, intelligence personnel, and air battle managers. The decision means that as a NATO member, Sweden will have full access to the program from 1 January 2026.
The accession ceremony took place at TLP's facility in Albacete, Spain, during the year's final flight course. The program is closely linked to NATO and focuses on providing relatively junior personnel with the ability to plan and lead complex air operations.
– It is a great day for the Swedish Air Force to finally become a member of TLP. It will give us an additional boost in our capability development and integration into NATO, says Carl Bergqvist, head of the Swedish Air Combat School, in the Air Force's news release.
Advanced flight courses are conducted four times a year, where crews are trained against a simulated qualified adversary. The program also serves as a platform for tactics and capability development within NATO.
– The program complements our own leadership training. The course also offers an excellent opportunity to get to know personnel from other air forces and thereby increase our interoperability, says Michael Lundquist, head of the Swedish Air Officer School.
In TLP's press release, it is stated that the membership was approved by the other TLP nations at a ceremony on 20 November. Representatives from countries including France, Portugal, Spain, and the USA participated. The program director, Colonel César Acebes Puertas, highlighted the significance of TLP's growth and emphasized Sweden's profile as a nation with strong technical competence and operational experience.
Colonel Bergqvist expressed the Air Force's appreciation for the opportunity to join during the ceremony and conveyed Sweden's intention to contribute to the continued development of TLP. According to the Air Force, Sweden will already contribute an instructor from the JAS 39's tactics development department in January. Throughout the year, Swedish pilots, air battle managers, and intelligence personnel will also participate as students.
Sweden has previously participated in TLP's theoretical parts as a so-called non-coalition participant. NATO membership now enables full participation, which according to the Air Force, is a prioritized step in deepening the Air Force's integration into NATO.