NATO’s planned nuclear deterrence exercise “Steady Noon” will continue until October 30.
The maneuvers will take place “over northwest Europe” – in Belgian and British airspace and over the North Sea, according to the alliance. Combat weapons will not be used in the exercise.
Up to 60 aircraft are reported to be involved, including state-of-the-art fighters and US B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers.
Belgian media report that the centre of the exercise will be the Royal Air Force’s Klein Brogel base in the province of Limburg. According to the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons, US nuclear warheads are deployed there. Officials have not confirmed this information.
Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained, “This is a planned annual exercise designed to ensure that NATO’s nuclear capabilities are kept safe and effective.” He stressed that the exercises were not related to the current crisis around Ukraine.