Brussels [Belgium], October 14: NATO has begun its annual manoeuvres to practise defending the alliance's territory with nuclear weapons.
Around 2,000 military personnel will be involved in the Steadfast Noon exercise over the next two weeks, the alliance announced on Monday at the start of the manoeuvres. Around 70 aircraft will be used in the air manoeuvres, it said, including German fighter jets capable of transporting US nuclear bombs stationed in Europe.
This year's manoeuvres are due to take place primarily in the airspace above the North Sea. The Dutch air base in Volkel and military bases in Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Lakenheath in England and Skrydstrup in Denmark are also expected to play key roles.
NATO says the German Armed Forces are providing three Tornados equipped to drop US nuclear bombs and four Eurofighters for the exercise. NATO emphasizes that Steadfast Noon is a routine exercise and is not a response to recent Russian airspace violations or other provocations.
Source: Qatar Tribune
