The Tactical Leadership Programme was founded in the late 19seventies. Its purpose was to join allied forces and train together in joint operations, but also to generate leaders for challenging multinational air defence and air strike missions. The TLP is a standalone organization based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the air forces of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. During the years other nations have been invited as guests to participate.

The first TLP ever was held at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany, in January 1978, but this first edition was strictly academic. The TLP moved to Jever AB, Germany, in September 1979 and the academic course was extended with a flying phase. When the TLP left Jever in 1988, 71 courses were held there and over 1900 aircrews were trained. Florennes AB in Belgium was appointed as the new homebase for the TLP and hosted its first TLP in March 1989. The TLP stayed at Florennes until July 2009, when the exercise moved to Albacete, Spain, where weather conditions are far better, and the aircrews have a large airspace structure to their usage. 

TLP 2009-1
The first participants of TLP 2009-1 arrived on Friday 9 January and the last participants departed on Friday 6 February. The first edition of the final TLP year at Florennes saw debutants in the form of the Polish Air Force. The Polish participated with their new F-16 Block 52 Vipers from Krzesiny AB. The French participated with four Mirage F.1s from BA-132 Colmar Air Base. It was the last appearance of the Colmar F.1s, later that year the unit was dissolved and in 2010 Colmar Air Base closed. The German Air Force came with three F-4Fs from Wittmund AB and eight Tornado IDSs, four from Büchel AB and four from Schleswig AB. The Italian Air Force came with two types, two AMXs from Amendola AB and seven F-16s from Rimini and Trapani. The Spanish Air Force participated with three EF-18Ms from Torrejon AB and the USAF came with only two F-15Es from RAF Lakenheath.

The Participants
French Air Force with Mirage 2000N from EC 02.004 and Mirage F.1CR from EC 01.030
German Air Force with F-4F from JG-71 and Tornado IDS from JBG-33 and AG-51
Italian Air Force with AMX from 32 Stormo and F-16A from 5 Stormo and 37 Stormo
Polish Air Force with F-16C/D from 31 Blt.
Spanish Air Force with EF-18M from Ala 12
USAF with F-15E from 494^th FS