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Britain and France disclose their first joint nuclear air exercise

Britain and France disclosed the first participation of RAF Typhoons in a French nuclear air exercise. The aircraft escorted Rafales on a simulated mission over the Mediterranean on 20–21 October. The October 23 announcement said no nuclear weapons were involved and that both countries retain independent forces and national decisions over their use.

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A British-marked Typhoon and a French-marked Rafale fly side by side above open blue sea.

British aircraft join a French nuclear exercise

Britain and France disclosed on 23 October that British aircraft had taken part in a French airborne nuclear exercise for the first time. The announcement made public a new step in practical coordination between the two countries’ forces.[1], [2]

The UK Ministry of Defence said Exercise Rummy took place on 20–21 October. Typhoons from the Royal Air Force, Britain’s air service, escorted French Rafales on a simulated nuclear strike mission over the Mediterranean. The Rafales flew from Saint-Dizier air base in northeastern France. No nuclear weapons were involved, the ministry said.[1]

The governments link the flight to Northwood cooperation

Both governments placed the exercise under the Northwood Declaration, their framework for closer nuclear defence cooperation. French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said independent nuclear forces could still coordinate. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the partnership as a contribution to Euro-Atlantic security. Those descriptions expressed the governments’ assessments of deterrence.[1]

National decisions over nuclear forces remain independent

The British announcement emphasised that both countries retain sovereign, independent nuclear forces and national decision-making. It presented the exercise alongside the refreshed Lancaster House defence framework and joint-force work. Britain also linked cooperation to its national investment in deterrence. The shared mission did not transfer authority to use nuclear weapons or merge the countries’ command structures.[1]

References

  1. News sourceUK Ministry of DefenceBritain and France disclose joint nuclear air exercise↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceDefense NewsFrance and Britain hold first joint airborne nuclear exercise↩
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