The Allied team visited the Belgian Air Base at Florennes on March 25, 2021 to complete the TACEVAL process that was initiated early in 2019 with preparation and evaluation exercises at the home base of Florennes airbase. The objective was to obtain the readiness certification for the entire F-16 capability of the Belgian Air Component to serve under the NATO Response Force or NRF.

Thanks to flexibility of all involved we were able to  successfully complete the evaluation with a safe modular approach

“A TACEVAL is never a picnic for an operational unit, but the same process in a pandemic situation was a bumpy road. Thanks to the flexibility of the 2nd Tactical Wing, the Belgian Air Force and AIRCOM staff we were  able  to capitalise on  the 2019

initial training and the early 2020 national evaluation to successfully complete the evaluation with a safe modular approach,” said Colonel Phlippe Goffin, Florennes Air Base Commander.

During the final exercise on March 25, the Allied Air Command TACEVAL inspectors tested the pilots’ knowledge and assessed individual responses to Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear incidents. A central element was the evaluation of the response capability of the Belgian F-16 Quick Reaction Alert (Intercept) fighters from 1st and 350th Squadrons at Florennes.

Overall, the Allied TACEVAL inspection team assessed the Belgian Air Component F-16 capability to be ready for NRF duties for the next three years.