NATO completes annual nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon
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| Dutch F-16 takes off from Aviano Air Base, Northern Italy, during exercise Steadfast Noon. |
NATO completed its long-planned annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon” on Thursday, which involved around 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over southern Europe. It is a routine training activity that has been conducted annually for over a decade and is hosted each time by a different NATO ally. The 2023 edition was launched on October 16 and was led by Italy.
The maneuvers involved 13 allied countries and a mix of aircraft types, including advanced fighter jets and U.S. B-52 bombers that flew in from the United States. The exercise also included conventional jets and surveillance and refueling aircraft. The training flights took place over Italy, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise involved fighter planes capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but did not involve any live bombs. The exercise was not linked to current world events and most of the training took place at least 1,000 kilometers from Russia's borders. NATO’s Strategic Concept makes clear that “the fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.” It stresses that “as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.”
The maneuvers involved 13 allied countries and a mix of aircraft types, including advanced fighter jets and U.S. B-52 bombers that flew in from the United States. The exercise also included conventional jets and surveillance and refueling aircraft. The training flights took place over Italy, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise involved fighter planes capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but did not involve any live bombs. The exercise was not linked to current world events and most of the training took place at least 1,000 kilometers from Russia's borders. NATO’s Strategic Concept makes clear that “the fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.” It stresses that “as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.”
Source: NATO
Images: USAF/Airman 1st Class Zachary Jakel
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