NATO Exercise Steadfast Noon Begins in the Face of Russian Nuclear Sabre-Rattling

According to AP,NATO will launch its annual nuclear drills on 14 OCT 2024 and they will last about two weeks.The exercise has been held in October or November each year for the last ten years.Boeing nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress Strategic Bombers along with other Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) are participating this year:Panavia Tornado;Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter;and F-15E Strike Eagle.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the drills,saying:In an uncertain world,it is vital that we test our defence so that our adversaries know that NATO is ready and is able to respond to any threat.*France will not participate as it is not a part of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group.*NATO members belonging to the U.S. nuclear-sharing programme are:Belgium,Germany,Italy,Netherlands and Turkey.These have facilities for storing the Boeing B61-12 tactical nuclear weapon in underground vaults inside an aircraft shelter.According to commercial documents,Great Britain is looking to rejoin the nuclear-sharing programme with the development of the needed facilities at RAF Lakenheath,England in light of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.The U.S. Air Force 701st Nuclear Support Squadron looks after the B61-12 tactical nuclear weapons.*The Neatherlands stores approximately 15 B61-12 tactical nuclear weapons in underground vaults inside an aircraft shelter at Vokel Air Base;while Belgium stores 22 B61-12 tactical nuclear weapons in underground vaults inside an aircraft shelter at Kleine Brogel Air Base.U.S. Air Force Security Forces provide security for the nuclear sites.*Despite Russian threats,NATO has seen no change in Russia's nuclear posture.Rutte said that giving into any threat:would set a precedant that using military force allows a country to get what it wants,and we cannot do that.*Angus Lapley,NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy said the drills are aimed at proving the Alliance has the ability to counter any threat against its 32 member nations,is credible and that:any adversary would need to take extremely seriously indeed.*Lapley said that:Moscow is introducing lots of novel systems and putting more emphasis on investment in short and intermediate range weapons systems.It has recently been talking an awful lot about nuclear doctrine and how that may or may not be evolving...a pretty clear attempt to influence us.*The major manoeuvres will take place over the UK;the North Sea off the Scottish coast;Belgium and the Netherlands.*The nuclear-sharing programme is a dual key arrangement,meaning nothing can be done without the consent of both the U.S. and the host nation.*The drills will involve every step in the U.S. nuclear-sharing prgramme:retrieving a simulated weapon from the underground storage vault;transporting it to the surface on an elevator;and mounting it on or in a Dual Capable Aircraft.*Daniel Bunch,Chief of Nuclear Operations at NATO Headquarters in Brussels,said while the drills will involve several types of military aircraft,a lot of it goes on behind the scenes:Under Staedfast Noon,we seek to stress the overall system,put people in tough positions,high operations tempos.The challenge of coordinating things:literally down to the minute when we would put a weapon onto the target is a very complex activity.*Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

A NATO First:Bomber Task Force Mission in Romania

Air Force Global Strike Command News Release:U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa 23 JUL 2024,Two U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers arrived at Mihail Kogaliceanu Air Base,Romania out of Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana for Bomber Task Force 24-4 on 21 JUL 2024.*While flying in international airspace and in accordance with international law,the U.S. B-52 aircraft were intercepted by two Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea,Arctic Region,at approximately 8 a.m. Central European Time.They did not change course due to the intercept and continued along their scheduled flight plan without incident,the Air Force said.The B-52s performed their pre-planned mission of integrating with NATO fighter aircraft before landing in Romania.While deployed,the B-52s will operate as the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron across the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR).Said GEN James B. Hecker,USAFE-AFAFRICA commander:In today's global environment,it is vital that we be postured to deliver a range of sustainable capability from great distances.This iteration of Bomber Task Force offers an excellent opportunity to refine our Agile Combat Employment (ACE) tactics,techniques and procedures (TTPs).Through collaborative efforts with our Allies,the U.S. enables our forces to combat current and future threats.*Bomber Task Force missions are not announced in advance to give potential adversaries pause.They emphasise Air Force Global Strike Command's ability to deploy forces anytime,anywhere throughout the globe.Through these missions,USAFE-AFAFRICA enables Dynamic Force Employment (DFE) to the European theatre,providing strategic predictability and assurance for Allies and Partners,while contributing to deterrence and defence by introducing greater operational unpredictability for potential adversaries.*Continued GEN Hecker:The U.S. is dedicated to work alongside our Allies and Partners along the Eastern Flank to ensure we have the combined skills and coordination capabilities to maintain regional safety,security and stability.*Regular routine deployments of U.S. strategic bombers demonstrate how the U.S. and NATO are ready,postured and well-prepared to deter threats,and,if necessary,defend the Alliance.*Boeing (BA)

U.S. Air Force, NATO. B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers. Arrival in the UK. - YouTube

Members of the 69th Exepeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Minot Air Force Basa,North Dakota are executing Bomber Task Force Mission 24-3 in the European Theatre of Operations under U.S. European Commnand (USEUCOM).Deployed under Air Force Global Strike Command,they will be providing assurance,interoperability training and deterrence,while sowing doubt in the minds of potential adversaries because of the unpredictability of such deployments,the Air Force said.Two Boeing B-52H Stratofortress nuclear-capable strategic bombers arrived at RAF Fairford on 20 May 2024,and a third arrived the following day.*Boeing (BA)