Britain and France conduct first joint nuclear strike simulation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 17:08 · Archive

British and French air forces have simulated a nuclear strike together for the first time.

Britain and France conducted their first joint nuclear exercise on Tuesday evening, with RAF Typhoon warplanes and French Rafale fighter jets simulating a nuclear strike over the Mediterranean Sea. The drill, codenamed 'Rummy', took off from Saint-Dizier airbase in north-eastern France and was conducted in compliance with security procedures without any actual nuclear weapons being used.

French armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin announced the exercise on Friday, describing it as a 'decisive milestone' in Anglo-French defence cooperation. She stated: 'Having independent nuclear forces does not preclude coordination. Our nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom continues to deepen.' She added that the coordinated exercise demonstrates that the two nations' nuclear forces can 'contribute increasingly significantly to the global security of the alliance and the peace and stability of the Euro-Atlantic zone'.

British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that this was the first time RAF jets had participated in nuclear drills alongside French forces. He said Britain and France 'stood together in their commitment to European security'. The exercise is seen as emphasising Western nuclear coordination at a time of heightened tensions in Europe.

How it is being reported

• Britain and France carry out first-ever joint nuclear drills in ‘decisive milestone’RAF Tyhoon jets joined French Rafale fighters for a simulated nuclear strike an operation named 'Rummy' this week.Metro · 23 Oct, 16:59
• British and French air forces simulate carrying out a nuclear strike in first-ever joint exerciseThe drill involved RAF Typhoon warplanes working alongside French Rafale fighter jets over the Mediterranean on Tuesday evening.Daily Mail · 23 Oct, 12:57

In this story: Britain · France · RAF · Catherine Vautrin · Wes Streeting · Mediterranean Sea · Saint-Dizier · Ukraine

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem