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 2006-4
The first participants arrived on Friday 16 June and the last participants departed on Friday 14 July.
Just like the previous edition, this edition also brought a large number of Panavia Tornados to the Ardennes. The RAF send no less than 10 different Tornados from 5 different squadrons to the TLP. The German Air Force participated with 6 Tornado’s from JBG-33 from Büchel Air Base and the Italian Air Force added 3 Tornado’s from Ghedi AB. The Italians were present with 3 different types. Not only the Tornado’s, but also 4 AMX’s from Istrana AB and 2 F-16A’s from Trapani AB on Sicily.  
The Czech Air Force participated again with 4 L-159A’s from Caslav AB.
The French Air Force participated with 3 Mirage 2000D from Nancy. The Spanish Air Force came with 2 EF-18AM’s from Ala12 from Torrejon AB, near Madrid.
The USAF was present with 2 Vipers from Aviano AB and 2 F-15E’s from Lakenheath.

The participants:
Czech Air Force with L-159A from 212.lt
French Air Force with Mirage 2000D from EC.03.003
German Air Force with Tornado IDS from JBG-33
Italian Air Force with Tornado IDS from 6 Stormo, F-16A from 37 Stormo and AMX from 51 Stormo
Royal Air Force with Tornado GR.4 from 9, 13 and 14 Sqn., Tornado F.3 from 25 and 41 Sqn. and Hawk T.1A from 100 Sqn.
Spanish Air Force with EF-18AM from Ala 12
USAF with F-16C from 555th FS and F-15E from 494th FS