Steadfast Noon nuclear exercises will be held in NATO countries. What is their specialty?

Steadfast Noon” — special exercises of the Alliance with a rehearsal of nuclear strikes, which will begin on October 14.

NATO will hold nuclear exercises Steadfast Noon
New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that these maneuvers are “a signal to any adversary that NATO will protect and defend all allies.” Especially in light of the fact that many members of the Alliance, who do not have nuclear weapons themselves, must use American nuclear weapons if necessary.

Steadfast Noon is devoted to only one part of the nuclear triad — aviation Fighter jets are to carry nuclear weapons, and free-falling bombs of the B61 type are to be used for nuclear strikes.

2,000 people from 13 Alliance countries, 8 air bases and more than 60 aircraft are taking part in this year's exercises, as reported by NATO. At the same time, not only fighters that will simulate the tasks of nuclear strikes, but also escort fighters, air tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and electronic warfare systems.

It is noted that the flights themselves will take place over Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain and North Sea.

In 2024, from June 1, the carriers of nuclear weapons in the Netherlands Air Force will be exclusively F-35s. These fifth-generation fighters took over this task from the F-16s, which are being phased out. In addition, strategic bombers B-52, B-1 and B-2 traditionally take part in such exercises on the part of the US, but nothing is said about their participation in the message.

The US keeps (or can keep) its nuclear weapons in Belgium at Kleine Brogel air base, in the Netherlands at Volkel, in Britain at Lakenheath. In addition, the list of “nuclear” air bases includes Büchel and Ramstein in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi in Italy, as well as Turkey's Incirlik.

Currently, it would be quite logical to create missiles with nuclear ammunition for tactical aviation, which may be launched from a safe distance, only one country in the West has taken this path — France. Back in the 80s, a nuclear ASMP with a range of 300 and then 600 km and a speed of up to Mach 3 was created, and now a hypersonic ASN4G with a range of 1000 km is being created to replace it.