Huge effort

NATO announces major nuclear exercise for Monday

The exercise will involve 60 aircraft.(Bild: AFP/CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU)

According to Secretary General Mark Rutte, NATO will begin its annual nuclear exercise on Monday. The two-week "Steadfast Noon" exercise will involve 60 aircraft from 13 countries, including F-35A fighter jets and B-52 bombers. 

The geographical focus will be on the UK, the North Sea, Belgium and the Netherlands. "In an uncertain world, it is vital that we test and strengthen our defenses so that our adversaries know that NATO is ready and able to respond to any threat," said former Dutch Prime Minister Rutte.

NATO does not provide any information on the exercise scenario or details. According to military experts, the maneuvers, which take place regularly in October, involve practicing how to safely transport US nuclear weapons from underground magazines to the aircraft and mount them under the fighter jets.

NATO has access to US nuclear weapons
However, the training flights take place without the bombs. NATO emphasizes that "Steadfast Noon" is not a reaction to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

NATO's nuclear sharing program provides for US nuclear weapons stationed in Europe to be dropped by partner countries' aircraft in an emergency, for example to disable enemy forces. According to officially unconfirmed information, US nuclear weapons are to be stored in northern Italy, Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.