RAF Typhoons have escorted French Rafales simulating a nuclear strike mission over the Mediterranean, the first time British aircraft have taken part in a French nuclear exercise, according to the government.
Exercise Rummy ran on 20 and 21 October, with the Rafales launching from Saint-Dizier air base in eastern France, the home of the French air force’s airborne nuclear component. No nuclear weapons were involved, and the Ministry of Defence said the exercise was conducted under robust safety and security arrangements and focused on how the two air forces work together.
Wes Streeting, the Defence Secretary, said: “This exercise marks a new chapter in the defence nuclear relationship between the United Kingdom and France.
“As Europe’s nuclear powers, we have a shared responsibility to contribute to the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region. This exercise demonstrates the depth of our partnership, the credibility of our deterrents and our determination to stand together in the face of emerging threats.
“In an increasingly dangerous world, our adversaries should be in no doubt: the UK and France remain united in our commitment to European security and to maintaining the deterrence that has helped preserve peace for generations.”
Catherine Vautrin, the French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, said: “Having independent nuclear forces does not exclude coordination. Our nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom keeps deepening: on Tuesday night, UK Typhoons participated for the very first time to a French nuclear exercise alongside Rafales.
“Through coordination, our nuclear forces demonstrate that they can contribute even more significantly to the overall security of the Alliance and to the peace and stability of the Euro Atlantic area.”
The exercise falls under the Northwood Declaration, the agreement signed last year under which the two countries said that no extreme threat to Europe could arise which would not prompt a response by both, while each retains sovereign and independent nuclear forces and national decision making. Britain and France are the only nuclear armed states in Europe, and the declaration established a joint nuclear steering group to coordinate their policy, capabilities and operations.
Saint-Dizier is the base of the 4th Fighter Wing, which operates Rafales carrying the ASMP-A supersonic stand-off missile that forms the airborne half of the French deterrent. The French maintain both an airborne component and ballistic missile submarines, while Britain has relied on submarines alone since the WE.177 bomb was withdrawn in 1998.
That changes with the purchase of twelve F-35A aircraft and British entry into NATO’s nuclear mission, which will return a nuclear role to the Royal Air Force after more than a quarter of a century. Air Marshal Johnny Beck told a committee this year that the aircraft were not bought for the nuclear role, while the government has presented the purchase as the means of joining the mission.
The Defence Investment Plan commits £63 billion over four years to the nuclear enterprise, funding the Dreadnought ballistic missile submarines, SSN-AUKUS attack submarines, a new sovereign warhead and the supporting infrastructure. The refreshed Lancaster House agreement between Britain and France covers an expanded joint deployable force, deeper nuclear cooperation and work on the next generation of weapons.
With Marrie Le Penn leading national poles in France now, we won’t be able to rely on French nuclear cooperation for much longer.
The UK needs its own 100% sovereign sub strategic nuclear capability, even if it means having to loose conventional capabilities.
With Germany and Poland building some of the strongest mechanised armoured forces in the world there is little ENATO needs from us on the land, what they do desperately need is up to provide key strategic deterrents and enablers, we may soon be the only nuclear armed NATO member who’s leader is not on the kremlins payroll. Even without that both the US and France are increasingly unstable.
We should develop an air launched sub strategic nuclear armed missiles based on STRATUS or Stomshadow and a secondary MRBM able to launch a range of nuclear and conventional warheads from our SSN A and land launchers to give us a full nuclear triad.
Nobody knows about that. Her foreign policy is not definitely set. She said we can’t help Ukraine financialy. Not that she will ask to end military cooperation. Everyone was scared of Meloni as well, and ultimately she has brought stability in her country. Macron has been a good leader on foreign policy, but in internal affairs, he was not good at all, for he did not handle pensions issues. Not saying Marine Le Pen will do anything about that either… She will want to fix migration issues, topic on which I am quite sure our many of our UK partners will be pleased. She will certainly want to have a different policy toward Russia to secure French energy bills, but it will be in the continuation of Macron’s policy, except perhaps in outspoken words. Most likely, she will want to increase our military spendings, to try to keep pace somehow with UK and Germany, but I can’t foresee a boom either. Regarding security policy, an election does not change geography. Germany in the uppercut right, UK in the upper left, Italy in the bottom right, Spain in the bottom left, Belgium and Lux in the north and the bank on the right. Brazil will still be our longest land border. And we will still have to pay for pensions.
We can’t project much power right now. So we will build long range missiles and new planes to support our friends in the East. But let’s face it: Poland does not count on us, Germany a bit more. What do we really have to gain from this adventure in the eastern Europe? Not much… They buy American. So our economic interest is diminishing gradually. We work with friends and partners.
The advanced deterence is a good program. I hope it will keep going on. But if it is to be continued, then Iris2 must continue as well. Otherways, I don’t see the point.
What do you lose for sub-strategic deterrence, then? What would you cut?
But if the AfD attain power in Germany, as they very well may, and the anti EU, anti Ukraine far right dominate in Poland after the election next year, Britain’s commitments to the Baltic States then look as threadbare as our security assurances to Ukraine in 1994, the result likely to be similar.
Deterrence is the key and deterrence demands a modernised and fully formed two division British Corps allocated to NATO as set out in SDR 2025.
No money left for nuclear bombs.
Le Penn will not be able to form a government no one will work with her.
Nobody knows about that. I think french people are fed up of unrest created by LFI and extreme left movements, fed up of lack of clarity in the chamber of deputy. The unstability was created by Macron a year and a half ago when he dissolved the parliement in a reckless move. It brought nothing but despear and lack of accountability. I think people will want to vote for « clarity » and the creation of a majority.
Our Typhoons are really getting stretch to the limit .Specially now flying over the likes of Saudi Arabia sky’s . If only we could bag a few more Squadrons like German, Italy and Spain 😟
I thought the Saudis had previously bought 72 Typhoons, it does not say much that they need further help. There must be a new contract in the offing. I did not realise we had resource to spare.
Absolutely 👍
Agree – Typhoon Force is getting fragged. And with Streeting saying we need to be ready for war in 1000 days have I missed the order for another 100 Typhoons?
This government is laughable mate it’s no wonder I have no hair 🙄
Appears our typhoon sales people included uk military support for Saudi.
Yes, pretty sure those oil billionaires and head choppers can afford their own aircraft to defend their skies.
RAF had a need for 24 new Typhoons to replace the scrapped Tranche 1’s
Very Hypothetically, if we are linking up with France as nuclear powers. We could wet lease 20 of their nuke capable aircraft and bombs instead of relying on the American bombs and f35A. I am not a tactical nuke or uk f35A fan in any case just a thought.
Can’t be done, French weapons use Permissive Action Links.
It’s actually very easy for HMG to generate a nuclear capability. UK doesn’t use PALs on its weapons systems, pilot or weapons chief arms them and they go BANG! No outside go codes required. Free fall nukes are extremely easy to design and make.
so europe currently relying on america to give out tactical freefall nuke bombs at the appropriate time, lets see what the next president is like. happy for uk to stay out of free fall bombs quite last century, but also would be bombing europe mainland so let those concerned make that choice.
Free fall nukes could be useful for tactical purposes to dissuade Russia from attempting to use tactical nukes in Ukraine. The prevailing winds on the Russo/Ukrainian border generally tend to blow eastwards, blowing radiation contamination back towards the Russian landmass.