Sentry Contributor
NATO began its annual Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise in October 2024, comprising more than 60 aircraft from various member nations. The two-week exercise, held across Western Europe, helps ensure the Alliance’s nuclear deterrence capabilities remain robust and credible.
Steadfast Noon included approximately 2,000 military personnel from eight airbases and an array of aircraft, including fighter jets capable of carrying U.S. nuclear warheads, bombers, refueling aircraft and planes equipped for reconnaissance and electronic warfare. No live weapons are used during the exercise, which focuses on training and readiness.
A different NATO country leads the exercise each year, with the 2024 iteration taking place in several Western European nations and including participation from 13 NATO Allies, demonstrating the alliance’s collective commitment to maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent.
The exercise came during heightened tensions with Russia, which has been conducting its own military drills near NATO’s borders. In response to NATO’s exercise, Russia criticized the Alliance’s actions, calling them provocative. However, NATO officials reiterated that Steadfast Noon’s objectives remain defensive and aimed at ensuring readiness.
Steadfast Noon involved complex scenarios that simulated the deployment of nuclear weapons in response to a potential threat. These scenarios tested the coordination and interoperability of NATO forces, ensuring that they can effectively work together in a crisis. The exercise also included training on the safe handling and transport of nuclear weapons.
One of the key components of Steadfast Noon was the involvement of dual-capable aircraft, which can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. These aircraft are a crucial part of NATO’s nuclear deterrence strategy, providing flexibility and ensuring that the alliance can respond to a range of threats.
The exercise also highlighted the importance of NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements, under which U.S. nuclear weapons are deployed in Europe and can be delivered by the aircraft of NATO Allies. This arrangement ensures that NATO’s nuclear deterrence is a shared responsibility, with multiple nations contributing to the Alliance’s overall security.
In addition to the military aspects of the exercise, Steadfast Noon included a strong focus on safety and security. NATO has stringent protocols in place to ensure the safe handling and transport of nuclear weapons, and these protocols were rigorously tested during the exercise. This included measures to prevent accidents and unauthorized access to nuclear weapons.
The exercise also provided an opportunity for NATO to demonstrate its transparency and commitment to arms control. NATO invited observers from nonnuclear countries to witness the exercise, providing reassurance that the Alliance conducts its nuclear activities responsibly.
The exercise underscored the importance of NATO’s nuclear doctrine, which is based on the principle of deterrence. NATO’s nuclear weapons are intended to deter aggression and ensure that any potential adversary understands that the costs of attacking NATO would far outweigh any potential gains.