# British and French air forces simulate carrying out a nuclear strike in first-ever joint exercise

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/british-and-french-air-forces-simulate-carrying-out-a-nuclear-strike-in-first-ever-joint-exercise/
- Published: 2026-10-23T11:59:51+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-23T12:11:35+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16232975/British-French-air-forces-simulate-nuclear-strike.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Fitness, Health, UK, World

## Key points

- Britain and France held their first joint simulated nuclear strike exercise.
- RAF Typhoons escorted French Rafales over the Mediterranean.
- The drill used no nuclear weapons and aimed to improve coordination.

## Summary

The British and French air forces have staged their first joint exercise simulating a nuclear strike, with RAF Typhoons escorting French Rafale jets over the Mediterranean. The drill is intended to improve coordination between Europe’s two nuclear-armed powers and reinforce their shared commitment to European security.

Codenamed “Rummy”, the exercise took place on Tuesday evening after the French aircraft took off from Saint-Dizier air base. France’s armed forces ministry said it followed security procedures and involved no nuclear weapons; no fictional adversary was identified. France maintains 290 nuclear weapons and spends about €5.6 billion (£4.69 billion) a year on its arsenal, while Russia and the United States each have more than 5,000.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.