European Supersonic Adversary & F-35 Lead-In Training Program

Disciplined adversary operations, built from the walkaround up

Every sortie in this program starts with disciplined basics: walkarounds, standard checklists, clear risk ownership and a debrief already in mind. IAA’s concept assumes a mixed cadre of seasoned adversary pilots and national F-35 / 4th-generation crews, all working to a single set of procedures tailored to TF-5R / TF-5T operations in European weather and airspace.

The quality of the adversary effect depends on the quality of the crews on the ramp. That is why the design explicitly integrates pilot selection, recurrent training and safety governance into the commercial construct—not as an afterthought, but as contractual deliverables.

Belgium main operating base as the European hub

The architecture centers on a Belgium main operating base that hosts the TF-5 wing, Red Air sorties and lead-in training flows. Belgium’s location, F-35 participation and industrial depth make it an ideal hub for Benelux and wider NATO access.

From this hub, partner nations connect as customers: they retain sovereignty over tactics, instructors and training objectives while relying on IAA’s infrastructure, fleet and program governance to deliver the flying hours and training effects.

Night maintenance and sortie-generation rhythm

The TF-5 fleet is designed to support a steady, predictable sortie rhythm: two main waves per day, five days per week as a baseline, with the ability to surge to three waves when NATO demand requires it.

Night maintenance windows are built into the planning model so engines, avionics and structures can be serviced without disrupting the daytime training tempo. This balance between flying and maintenance is central to the commercial and operational design.

European sustainment anchored around the Belgium main operating base

European industrial partners provide the on-base and near-base infrastructure needed for heavy maintenance, structural work, corrosion control and long-term storage of major components. This is where the TF-5 fleet is kept airworthy and auditable.

IAA’s role is to structure the agreements, ensure non-circumvention and keep the sustainment picture aligned with the overall program phasing and fleet growth plan so that maintenance capacity grows in step with the aircraft count.

Benelux routes radiating from the hub

The Benelux map shows how TF-5 sorties radiate from Belgium into neighboring training areas, supporting F-35 squadrons in the Netherlands and other partner nations without relocating the entire fleet.

This hub-and-spoke geometry minimizes transit time and maximizes time on station, keeping the adversary effect where it belongs: inside the tactical problem set, not on ferry legs.

Structured European training routes and deployments

Beyond day-to-day Benelux operations, the program allows periodic deployments to other European ranges and Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) events, using predefined route structures and diplomatic clearances.

IAA’s architecture ensures that these itinerant deployments are budgeted, governed and repeatable—not one-off events that depend on personalities or ad-hoc authorizations.

Dedicated airspace blocks integrated with national and NATO control

Training areas and altitude blocks are integrated into existing national and NATO airspace structures, with clear letters of agreement and standard procedures for TF-5 operations.

The intent is to make supersonic adversary activity predictable for civil ATC while preserving enough flexibility to support complex F-35 and COMAO scenarios across Europe.

Control tower coordination for high-tempo supersonic operations

The TF-5 wing interfaces daily with Belgium ATC, base operations and NATO control centers. Standard operating procedures cover supersonic corridors, pattern work, IFR operations and cross-border coordination for return-to-base and divert scenarios.

These procedures are captured in written guidance and exported to partner nations so that visiting crews and controllers understand the system before they arrive.

Structured briefing products aligned with NATO doctrine

Briefing slides follow a common template inspired by TLP and national fighter weapons school practice. They cover objectives, threat lay-down, Blue and Red roles, timelines, comm plan and risk controls in a way that is familiar to F-35 squadrons.

IAA uses these products as part of the contracting language, making it clear that customers are buying defined training effects and learning objectives, not just “flying hours”.

High-fidelity debriefs with timelines, video and data

The debrief room brings together TF-5 and F-35 crews to review mission timelines, sensor tracks, ACMI data and cockpit video. The focus is on extracting tactical lessons and turning every mistake into an investment for the next flight.

This culture of disciplined debrief is where much of the value of the program is delivered, and it is built into the daily battle rhythm from day one as a non-negotiable habit.

Adversary and F-35 crews learning side by side

European fighter communities are small. The program encourages a cooperative culture where adversary pilots, F-35 instructors and visiting crews share perspectives in the same room, making every sortie a multi-nation learning event instead of a closed national bubble.

Over time this builds a network of pilots and engineers across Europe who understand the TF-5 capability and can advocate for its intelligent use at home.

IAA coordinating government, military and industrial stakeholders

International Aviation Assets acts as the neutral architect connecting ministries of defense, air forces and industrial partners under clear non-circumvention and confidentiality frameworks.

Decisions about fleet size, phasing, export control and contractual structure are taken in structured forums rather than fragmented e-mail threads, reducing risk and confusion for all parties.

Dedicated mission planning spaces for complex sorties

The mission planning room supports combined packages: TF-5R Red Air, TF-5T lead-in elements and national F-35 formations. Whiteboards, planning tools and secure networks enable pilots to build scenarios that match real-world threats instead of generic training patterns.

Planning standards draw on TLP experience so that crews from different nations immediately recognize the flow and terminology when they walk into the room.

From planning table to ramp without losing the script

The transition from mission planning to briefing and then to the ramp is where many exercises lose coherence. The program’s processes are designed to keep the plan intact and clearly assigned, even as weather, NOTAMs or aircraft serviceability evolve.

IAA ensures that this discipline is documented and repeatable, not dependent on one charismatic planner or a particular squadron commander.

Structured sortie packages and utilization assumptions

The sortie board illustrates how morning and afternoon waves are constructed: numbers of TF-5R and TF-5T jets, F-35 aircraft, support assets and objectives per mission.

These matrices are also the basis for commercial planning. They drive monthly flight-hour assumptions, maintenance man-hours, instructor demand and the pricing of surge options that nations may request for exercises or readiness spikes.

Glass cockpit and sensor fusion tailored to F-35 expectations

The TF-5 cockpit upgrade replaces legacy analog instruments with multifunction displays, modern HUD options and a mission computer that can emulate F-35-style sensor and weapons management logic.

This allows pilots to practice time-compressed sensor fusion and weapons employment while still flying an affordable airframe, making every TF-5 hour more relevant to fifth-generation operations.

APQ-159 and follow-on options for realistic threat replication

Legacy APQ-159 upgrades and potential AESA options give TF-5R a radar picture that can credibly simulate 4th-generation threats in the F-35 cockpit. Modes and ranges are selected to stress F-35 tactics without pretending to be a peer 5th-generation adversary.

The program uses bench-validated configurations and well-documented test results so ministries of defense can understand exactly what capability they are buying and how it fits into their overall training architecture.

Avionics bench validation before aircraft installation

Radar, mission computers and EW components are validated on dedicated benches before returning to the aircraft. This reduces risk, protects the flight test schedule and provides engineers with clean data for continuous improvement.

Bench test procedures and results are captured as part of the technical data package that accompanies the program proposal.

Hands-on inspections driving predictable availability

Line maintenance crews work to standard cards and digital records that trace every inspection, discrepancy and component change. This discipline is what allows the fleet to meet the sortie promises made in program briefs.

IAA’s commercial construct ties availability metrics directly to performance incentives so that everyone is aligned on reliability, not just flying hours.

Maintenance hangar sized for fleet growth

The maintenance hangar is designed to hold multiple TF-5 aircraft simultaneously for phase inspections, structural work and avionics upgrades, supporting the program’s growth from initial detachment to a 12–24 aircraft fleet.

Capacity planning is part of the early program design, not a “we will figure it out later” footnote.

Controlled inventory supporting sustained sortie rates

Engines, rotables and high-value components are stored under controlled conditions and serialized in an inventory system with clear traceability back to their technical records.

This supports the sustained sortie generation required by F-35 units while keeping regulators comfortable with safety, traceability and documentation.

Tooling, storage and controlled environments for long-term support

Proper tooling, calibrated equipment and storage racks ensure that maintenance teams can work efficiently and that regulators will sign off on the maintenance system.

IAA integrates these infrastructure requirements into the overall financial model so that nothing “disappears between the lines” of a tender or memorandum.

TF-5T / TF-5B “Agile Talon” as the bridge to F-35

Dual-seat variants are used for lead-in fighter training, compressing the transition from basic jet training to F-35. This relieves pressure on national FTUs and frees F-35 hours for mission-focused training.

The syllabus takes lessons from Italian IFTS and TLP to create a European bridge that is realistic, affordable and exportable.

“Agile Talon” concepts refined through international submissions

TF-5T / TF-5B “Agile Talon” concepts have been refined through previous submissions to international customers. IAA consolidates these lessons into a single European package tailored to F-35 lead-in needs, avoiding the need for nations to reinvent the wheel.

TF-5R “Red Tiger” as a recognizable European adversary brand

The TF-5R “Red Tiger” identity gives the fleet a recognizable presence across NATO exercises, helping pilots and leadership immediately understand what capability is on the schedule and what it can deliver.

Building habits that transfer directly to front-line fighters

Walkaround procedures, checklist discipline and communication habits learned on TF-5 carry directly into F-35 operations. The program emphasizes this transfer instead of treating TF-5 sorties as “just contracted Red Air”.

TF-5R “Red Tiger” – supersonic adversary baseline

The TF-5R configuration is the workhorse of the supersonic adversary model: agile, reliable and modernized enough to replicate 4th-generation threats to F-35 crews at scale and at acceptable cost.

High-aspect visual merges and BFM sets

TF-5R provides the visual and kinematic cues pilots expect from a genuine 4th-generation threat in the merge. This supports high-aspect, neutral and offensive/defensive BFM sets that sharpen F-35 pilots’ basic air combat skills.

Two-ship and four-ship Red Air cells

The program supports formation training for TF-5 crews themselves while also enabling them to present realistic multi-ship Red Air formations to F-35 packages.

Operating in European weather conditions year-round

The TF-5 fleet is intended to fly in realistic European weather across the seasons, not just in perfect conditions. This exposes pilots to cloud, moisture, low sun angles and crosswinds similar to what they will see operationally.

Weapons-range profiles and simulated threat reactions

On weapons ranges, TF-5R can play either the shooter or the reacting threat, supporting a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface profiles that build pilot confidence and sharpen timing.

Terrain masking and low-level routes where authorized

Where nations authorize it, TF-5 sorties can include low-level segments to practice terrain masking, pop-up profiles and coordinated timing with F-35 strike packages.

Supersonic training at altitude within controlled corridors

Supersonic profiles are flown in dedicated corridors and blocks defined with national and NATO authorities. These profiles are essential for replicating real-world intercepts and counter-intercepts in a safe, predictable framework.

Night Red Air and lead-in training options

Selected sorties are conducted at night to build pilot confidence in formation, radar and sensor use in low-light conditions, again under strict safety procedures and airspace coordination.

Visible commitment to a standing adversary capability

A line of TF-5 aircraft on the ramp sends a clear signal: this is not a one-off demo, but a standing capability that nations can plan around for the long term.

Showcasing the fleet to visitors and leadership

The program anticipates frequent visits from defense leadership, allied delegations and industry partners. Ramp presentations are choreographed to show the fleet, crew and safety culture in the best possible light.

Scaling options: 6, 12, 18 or 24 aircraft

From a commercial and operational standpoint, the TF-5 fleet is built in blocks of six aircraft. This supports graceful growth from a starter package to a full wing while keeping logistics manageable and predictable.

Upgrading TF-5 pilots into instructors over time

The concept includes a path for national pilots to transition into TF-5 instructor roles over time, spreading expertise and strengthening the link between TF-5 and F-35 units.

Mixed crews from different nations on the same day

The program encourages Belgium, Benelux and partner pilots to fly together whenever politically acceptable, building a shared understanding of tactics and procedures across Europe.

Carefully managed public relations around the fleet

While the majority of this program is discreet, leadership may occasionally choose to show elements of the TF-5 fleet to the public. IAA’s architecture allows for this without compromising operational security or commercial agreements.

Building adversary profiles that matter to 5th-generation pilots

Adversary tactics are designed specifically for F-35 sensor and weapon employment, not just generic dogfights. This ensures that each mission stresses the right parts of the kill chain instead of simply burning fuel.

Clear risk controls for every profile

The program’s safety case, drawn from previous submissions and international best practice, defines hard limits and risk controls for each mission type. Pilots know exactly where the red lines are and who owns each decision.

Templates that can be adapted to other European locations

While Belgium is the anchor, the architecture and documents built here can, if governments wish, be adapted to other European locations in future, always through IAA as the integrator and commercial lead.

Planning for surge, maintenance and recovery windows

The program explicitly models surge weeks, maintenance downturns and recovery periods so that customers know what to expect over the life of their contracts, even when aircraft rotate through deeper maintenance.

A ten-year vision for European supersonic adversary training

This is not a two-year experiment. The planning horizon is a decade, allowing fleets, infrastructure and people to grow in a controlled way as funding and demand increase.

Visible evidence of a standing European TF-5 force

A fully equipped ramp line shows that the program exists in metal, not just in slides. This is the picture leaders will remember when they think about European adversary air.

F-35 and TF-5 simulators tied to live flying

A modern simulator suite supports both TF-5 and F-35 training, allowing crews to rehearse complex missions before flying them and to debrief them afterward with high-fidelity data.

Space for synthetic growth over time

Live-virtual-constructive (LVC) options can be added as funding and technology mature. The program is designed so these enhancements plug into the existing architecture instead of forcing a redesign.

Clear, exportable documentation for ministries of defense

The same clarity you see on this page is reflected in the underlying documents—briefs, technical annexes and commercial models that decision-makers can actually read and use in their internal processes.

Buying sorties and outcomes, not just hardware

Nations pay for contracted training outputs—sorties, courses, pilots graduated—not simply the raw cost of hardware. This is the core commercial concept that keeps the program efficient and scalable.

Audit-ready procedures from ramp to records

From the way an engine is preserved in storage to the way a sortie is signed off in the log, the system is designed so that auditors can follow the story without drama or surprises.

One accountable architect at the center of the program

International Aviation Assets keeps the full picture in view: aircraft sourcing, technical risk, commercial logic and multinational politics. That is what turns a stack of good ideas into a coherent, executable program.

Live, virtual and constructive pieces under one umbrella

Over time, live TF-5 sorties, simulators and constructive entities can be fused into a single training environment. IAA’s role is to keep that integration coherent across phases and funding lines.

Supporting a connected European fighter training ecosystem

This initiative does not compete with existing national schools or TLP; it complements and feeds them by providing supersonic Red Air and lead-in training at scale.

Pilots, engineers and controllers working as one team

Ultimately the program is about people—pilots, maintainers, controllers and planners who share a common rhythm and safety culture while speaking many different languages.

Sample mission day for visiting F-35 units

Visiting units arrive to a pre-planned schedule: morning briefing with TF-5 crews, two waves of mixed missions, and an evening debrief with simulator support. Everything is documented and repeatable so that each visit produces predictable training value.

Space for innovation, technology insertion and EU funding

The architecture leaves room for future technology insertion—whether that is additional sensors, synthetic training links or EU research and development participation—without breaking the basic business model.

Lighting the hangar for the next decade

The imagery of a hangar lit at night represents a long-term commitment to European defense and training, not a temporary project that disappears after the next exercise season.

Belgium at the center, IAA holding the architecture together

Put simply: Belgium provides the location, trusted industrial partners provide the maintenance backbone, International Aviation Assets provides the architecture and commercial engine, and European air forces bring the pilots and requirements.

A coherent, readable picture of a complex program

This page is a visual index for a ten-year, multi-billion-dollar effort. Leaders can scroll from top to bottom and understand who, what, when, where, why and how—then speak directly with IAA to explore details in a secure setting.