According to the alliance, up to 60 aircraft will be involved in the “Steadfast Noon” exercise over the next two weeks – including modern jet fighters, as well as surveillance and refueling aircraft and long-range B-52 bombers. In particular, the stage should be the airspace above Belgium, Great Britain and the North Sea. The Bundeswehr is also involved.
NATO emphasizes that “Steadfast Noon” is not a response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and that no live weapons are used. “The exercise, which will run until October 30, is a routine, recurring training measure unrelated to current world events,” the alliance said on Friday.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said: “This exercise helps ensure that the alliance’s nuclear deterrent remains safe and efficient.”
The transport of bombs is practiced
NATO does not provide information about the exercise scenario and details. According to military experts, among other things, during the maneuvers that take place regularly in October, they practice how to safely transport American nuclear weapons from underground warehouses to the aircraft and mount them under the fighter jets. However, the training flights are then flown without the bombs.
According to unconfirmed information, US nuclear weapons are said to have been stored in northern Italy, Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands and Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate. The so-called nuclear sharing of NATO means that in case of emergency they are also dropped from aircraft by partner countries and then, for example, eliminate opposing forces. Germany has PA-200 Tornado fighter jets ready for this.
Unlike previous Steadfast Noon exercises, NATO is proactively providing information about the launch this year. In allied circles this is justified by the fact that this time it has to be demonstrated more than usual that NATO is well prepared for a horror scenario such as nuclear war.
The illegal annexation of four occupied Ukrainian territories has recently fueled new concerns about Russia’s use of nuclear weapons. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, among others, then announced that they would defend them with all available means.
(SDA)