Warning for the Russian Federation: NATO shows its tactical nuclear capabilities

NATO forces conduct the largest Steadfast Noon exercise against the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements about changing his country's nuclear doctrine.

More than sixty fighter jets , strategic bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, surveillance aircraft and tankers from thirteen countries are participating in the Steadfast Noon exercise. about NATO's biggest nuclear exercises Steadfast Noon.

Steadfast Noon training – one of the main events in the NATO calendar, which is becoming even more relevant today against the background of Russia's constant nuclear threats against the United States and NATO through Ukraine.

Nuclear weapons over Europe

In a period of heightened tensions in relations with Russia, NATO is honing its tactical nuclear potential.

As for the aircraft participating in the operation, NATO uses the most powerful platforms. In particular, strategic bombers B-52 Stratofortress and fighters F-16 Fighting Falcon, JAS 39 Gripen, F/A-18 Super Hornet, Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-15E Strike Eagle and F-35A/B Lightning II take part in the exercises. .

Some of these fighters are nuclear-armed, meaning they are certified and equipped to carry nuclear warheads. As for other fighters, they perform escort functions.

Belgium, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Finland and the Czech Republic are participating in this year's Steadfast Noon exercise.

“Nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of security allies, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a press release.

This year's Steadfast Noon training is being held in Belgium and the Netherlands. Training missions will also take place over Denmark, Great Britain and the North Sea.

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NATO countries hosting the training on their territory have invested time and money in modernizing their air bases, which will be based on aircraft with nuclear warheads. There are special storage facilities and bunkers in which nuclear warheads are stored. When the time comes, the warheads will be extracted and installed in bombs or missiles before they go into flight.

Tactical nuclear munitions have scalable yields, meaning the operator can choose how powerful a nuclear blast he wants.

Although only a few of the aircraft participating in the exercise are designated as nuclear, any aircraft can could launch a nuclear warhead.

Russian Threats

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced a change in his country's nuclear doctrine. The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow would consider an attack on its territory with weapons provided by a third country, which is also a nuclear power, a nuclear provocation.

“NATO is taking steps to ensure the safety, reliability, effectiveness and credibility of the Alliance's nuclear deterrent forces. For example, this year the first allied F-35A fighter jets from the Netherlands were declared ready for nuclear missions,” – declared in NATO.

The declaration of the NATO Washington Summit clearly states that “the main purpose of NATO's nuclear potential is to preserve peace, prevent violence and deter aggression.” It says that “as long as there are nuclear weapons, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance”, – added in the transatlantic alliance.

About the author

Stavros Atlamazoglu – an experienced journalist who writes on defense topics and specializes in special operations, as well as a veteran of the Greek Army (served in the 575th Marine Battalion and Army Headquarters). He received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and his master's degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Published in Business Insider, Sandboxx and SOFREP.