Germany Sends Three Tornados to NATO Nuclear Exercise at Aviano

Overview

• Germany moved three Tornado fighter jets from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33 to Aviano Air Base on Monday to take part in NATO’s annual Steadfast Noon exercise.
• NATO says this year’s exercise is similar in scale to last year, provides few public details about scenarios, and confirms only training bombs without live nuclear warheads will be used.
• The Tornados are normally based at Büchel, a site widely reported though not officially confirmed as a U.S. nuclear storage location under NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements.
• Alliance officials have been discussing changes to Europe’s non‑strategic nuclear posture and are considering options that could include additional U.S. basing, a policy review described as ongoing.
• Steadfast Noon usually practices secure transport, loading and coordination with about 2,000 personnel and 70-plus aircraft, and past exercises have prompted parallel Russian drills and heightened political debate about deterrence.