NATO To Kick Off Annual Nuclear Exercise

NATO announced on Oct. 10 that its annual Steadfast Noon nuclear sharing exercise will kick off on Monday, Oct. 13. This year’s edition will center around the North Sea area in Northwest Europe, with aircraft operating out of the Netherlands’ Volkel Air Base as the main hub, NATO officials said in a briefing ahead of the exercise, reported Defense News. RAF Lakenheath, Kleine Brogel in Belgium, and Fighter Wing Skrydstrup in Denmark will also host elements of the exercise. The United States will participate with four F-35 jets in the dual-capable aircraft role for the first time, with that role previously performed by the F-15E Strike Eagle.