NATO will begin its annual nuclear deterrence exercise Steadfast Noon on 13 October, bringing together aircraft, personnel and support units from across the Alliance in what it describes as a vital test of its nuclear readiness and deterrence posture, according to the organisation.
The exercise, which has been planned for over a year, will involve around 2,000 personnel and aircraft from thirteen Allied nations.
It will be hosted primarily in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom and over the North Sea, far from Russian or Ukrainian territory. Participating aircraft include bomber and fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, alongside escort, refuelling and electronic warfare platforms. NATO stressed that no live nuclear weapons will be used at any point.
During a visit to Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underscored the importance of the exercise, saying it was essential to ensure the Alliance’s nuclear forces remain “credible, safe, secure and effective.” He added that the drills “send a clear signal to any potential adversary that we will and can protect and defend all Allies against all threats.”
Rutte highlighted that Steadfast Noon forms part of NATO’s broader approach to deterrence at a time of heightened global tension, describing nuclear deterrence as “the cornerstone of Allied security.”
The exercise is expected to feature F-35A Lightning IIs, among other aircraft, with Volkel serving as a key base for participating units.
According to NATO, the purpose of Steadfast Noon is to maintain the credibility and operational effectiveness of the Alliance’s nuclear deterrent, while ensuring that the forces involved can operate safely and in full coordination. It is one of NATO’s most significant recurring exercises and a central component of its strategic deterrence posture.
Good, more noisy Yanks wizzing around at all hours.
“Move to the country” they said,
“Enjoy the peace and quiet”
“Breath all that lovely fresh air”
And what do we get ? Bloody Maverick and Goose going Balistic all day and night.
I’m going to complain.
ok karen.
I’d love to live near a jet base, all I get is Chinooks going WOKKA WOKKA while searching hopelessly for the farmer’s field they were told to land in.
You can hear and identify them long before they come into sight.
Daniele, as you live closer to Odiham than me I presume you get them more?
Ha, Chinooks are pretty noisy that’s true, you can hear them way off but you also feel them too !
I’m in Plane spotters Heaven, we get all the American stuff and pretty much all the British too.
I’m probably the Polar opposite of a “NIMBY Karen”. Love it.
Often mate. Especially Thursday nights.
Apart from that, we’re not in the best place are we.
That’s why I used to get down to Stonehenge and Boscombe but even that’s gone quiet to what it was.
I too would like to be somewhere with a bit more activity.
We get them a lot at hockey down near Godalming, and the occasional one over Guildford. I’d love to have fast jets, you hear and see them a lot on holiday in Greece etc but never in the south of England.
We are slightly spoiled by being right next to Portsmouth, which also brings occasional Merlins along the south coast, and this weekend I’ll be near Oxford and right under the BZ landing circuit, which is always impressive.
I’m pretty good at IDing military kit, especially aircraft, visually.
A Chinook, that sound. So distinctive.
You’re lucky. All I get is 747s roaring overhead all day
I have those too, I’m under the Heathrow-Central Europe flightpath (to the point where in summer the shadow of the jets falls on my garden).
Also the Biggin Hill – Ascot helicopter route, which is also annoying in summer.
Most of our traffic is Farnborough bound, plenty of airliners higher up.
Non military Helicopters are common too, I wasn’t aware of a Biggin Ascot heli route so maybe it is that.
Yup, the Farnborough takeoff path goes slightly North of Guildford. It’s always funny doing stuff with cadets because whenever they hear engine noise we all crane our necks to work out where it’s coming from. The Ascot thing isn’t official I think, they just all seem to pass within earshot of my house for that week in summer.
I wonder will the UK have to sign a new treaty with the USA to cover B61 employment or is this covered in existing treaties.
I don’t think the UK will get It’s F35A’s anytime soon so plenty of time to sort the paperwork if needed.
My personal opinion is this F35A purchase makes a lot of sense due to the Stealth (which was not really an option back in the day) and the fact It focuses minds on knowing we have this second capability.
I would like to think that Tempest will be N capable too. Long range 5.5 or 6th gen tech and Stealth makes for quite the capability.
By the time the RAF gets its 12 F-35A, JSM & AARGM-ER will have been integrated by others onto the F-35A. A small UK buy of JSM & AARGM-ER would give more capability/flexibility to the small RAF F-35A fleet.
As a tier one we should have gone down the Israeli route and fitted our own stuff. But hey.
If talking N Weapons, we don’t have any.