NATO's TACEVAL program consists of a highly demanding tactical and operational assessment that seeks to evaluate a unit's operational capabilities against the standards defined by the Alliance. Passing such an evaluation guarantees tactical and operational capacity following NATO requirements.

The national F-16s were evaluated in this program twice, in 2003 and 2011, with both events taking place at Ovar Air Base, representing operations in a deployed environment and achieving a high degree of success.

In 2013, the International Board for Auditors for NATO (IBAN) redefined the evaluation concept for the Forces assigned to the Organization. Thus, in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the operational capacity of the national F-16s was again evaluated by NATO, achieving the same level of success, albeit in a modular model. This model maintained the same focus on Operational, Logistics, and Security areas.

These events represented crucial opportunities to test and refine the operational capabilities of Portuguese aircraft and crews, demonstrating combat readiness and interoperability with other forces within the scope of NATO commitments.