Conflict · Nuclear cooperationMediterranean nuclear exercise: RAF Typhoons join French nuclear drill for first timeAired October 24, 2026 at 11:39 AM UTCWritten October 24, 2026 at 11:47 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07British fighters escorted French jets rehearsing a nuclear strike over the0:11Mediterranean.0:12The exercise involved zero nuclear weapons, both defense ministries say, but it0:16brings British escorts into a French nuclear air exercise for the first time.0:20What changes operationally and how far does that cooperation go?0:24France and Britain called the exercise rummy.0:26French Rafaels departed a base in northeastern France before the rehearsal over the0:30Mediterranean.0:32The sea was the operating area for the simulated mission.0:35The aircraft had different jobs.0:37The French crews rehearsed the strike mission.0:39While the Royal Air Force supplied fighter escorts, that puts the British0:43contribution in the supporting part of the operation.0:45The Rafales performed the simulated strike.0:48The Typhoons escorted them, helping the two air forces practice working together0:52during the mission.0:53The ministries described the exercise as intended to improve coordination and said0:57it followed security procedures.0:59The British aircraft's assignment was escort duty.1:02Their participation adds British support to a French nuclear mission rehearsal.1:06It doesn't give the typhoons a nuclear delivery role.1:09The Royal Air Force's Typhoons had never before participated in a French nuclear air1:14exercise.1:15That's the specific first the British government announced.1:18France and Britain already had a defense relationship, and France regularly1:22rehearses nuclear raids and exercises called poker.1:25The public announcement followed the reported flight by three days.1:28The distinction between those dates helps explain why the exercise appears under1:32more than one date.1:33The flight reportedly took place on October 20th, 2026.1:37Another account gives October 20th through 21st for the exercise.1:41The full exercise window isn't clear.1:44The British government published its announcement on October 23rd.1:48The political groundwork came more than a year earlier.1:51France and Britain set out closer nuclear defense cooperation in the Northwood1:55Declaration in July 2025, alongside their wider Lancaster House Defense Agreement.2:00British Defense Secretary West Streeting called Rummy a landmark step in UK-France2:05defense cooperation.2:06The announcement also involved French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin.2:10Their governments are bringing the two air forces closer together in a sensitive2:14mission area.2:14The rehearsal comes amid continuing tensions between NATO powers and Russia.2:18Its demonstrated change is closer coordination between French strike aircraft and2:23British escorts.2:24The country's political framework keeps their nuclear deterrence independent.2:28The July Declaration describes cooperation between independent nuclear deterrents.2:33Britain and France are practicing how their aircraft can work together while2:36maintaining that independence.2:38Rummy brought British escorts into the French rehearsal, with the French rafaels2:42carrying out the simulated strike.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗