Steadfast Noon:NATO's Nuclear Response Rehearsal

One of NATO's most secretive exercises, Steadfast Noon,has been taking place this month.According to reports from Germany, this year's iteration of the nuclear wargame has featured a practise at Norvenich Air Base, Germany in which the German Air Force removed US B61 hydrogen bombs from their underground storage bunker and mounted them on Panavia Tornado IDS aircraft.Norvenich is reportedly an alternate storage site for these tactical nuclear weapons.Simultaneously, German forces at Buchel Air Base simulated defending the base from an airborne threat with Patriot missiles in Exercise Resilient Guard. There are estimated to be about 20 B61 bombs stored in Germany under NATO's Nuclear Sharing arrangement.It is a dual key arrangement between the United States and the five NATO Allies storing B61s on their territory: Belgium, Germany,Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.The B61s are carried on Dual Capable Aircraft (conventional/nuclear).* More than 50 aircraft have participated in Steadfast Noon 2020, which has been headquartered at Volkel Air Base, the Netherlands.The aircraft have flown sorties over some of Western Europe and the North Sea. Attending the drills on 16 October at Volkel were NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; Supreme Allied Commander Europe GEN Tod Wolters USAF; and Netherlands Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld.Mr.Stoltenberg spoke with the aircrews and was briefed on the classified scenario by the base Commander.In talks with Ms.Bijleveld,Mr.Stoltenberg stressed that at a time of evolving security challenges,it is essential that the Alliance remains protected by the full spectrum of capabilities, with the Allies being determined that NATO's nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective.* The exercise has become even more important given Russia's ongoing development and deployment of nuclear-capable missiles in Europe,which resulted in the scrapping of the INF Treaty.* Those Allies who are not part of Nuclear Sharing may also participate in the nuclear mission under the SNOWCAT programme (Support of Nuclear Operations With Conventional Air Tactics). Such a country is Poland, which, for example, took part in the 2014 iteration with three F-16 Fighting Falcons and about 40 personnel.* In 2009, Russia reportedly simulated a nuclear strike on Poland; and in 2013, Russia simulated a nuclear strike on NATO Partner Sweden with Tu-22M3 bombers.This year, a Russian Su-27 Flanker violated NATO Ally Denmark's airspace in violation of international law on 28 August.* The Atlantic Council thinktank published the paper "Threaten decisive nuclear retaliation" by David Gompert and Hans Binnendijk, which states: Taken together, Russia's adventurous foreign policy, conventional military disadvantage, and fear of US strategic nuclear intentions are causing it to develop and field new intercontinental and theater nuclear delivery systems, including hypersonic systems, which has grave implications for NATO.In this context, Russia's declared threat to use nuclear weapons first in the event of war should be of acute concern,as much to US allies as to the United States.*