British Eurofighter combat aircraft took part in a French nuclear exercise for the first time.

[william]

The French Minister of the Armed Forces has just announced that British Eurofighter combat aircraft took part in a French nuclear exercise for the first time.This is a revolution for the Strategic Air Forces (FAS), which have always operated in complete autonomy since their creation in the 1960s. It is worth noting, however, that two FAS Rafale B aircraft had already conducted a joint exercise with two German Eurofighters this summer.

The scope of the exercise remains unknown. It may have been exercise BELOTE 2026-04, which was scheduled for this Tuesday at night (with a reserve slot on Wednesday). BELOTE is a kind of "mini-POKER" and is likely used for the qualification of new crews so that they can then take part in the POKER operation. If this is indeed the case, it paves the way for British crews to take part in the next POKER. However, no activity was visible on @ADSBex
during these two days, which is very unusual.

Edit: It seems that the name of the exercise was "RUMMY", which is also a card game, like BELOTE and POKER.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2113581269220982881

• The post analyzes French Minister Catherine Vautrin's announcement of the first joint nuclear exercise "RUMMY," where RAF Eurofighter Typhoons escorted French Rafale B aircraft in a simulated airborne nuclear strike over the Mediterranean from Saint-Dizier base.
• This marks a historic first for France's Strategic Air Forces (FAS), which had operated autonomously since the 1960s, and directly implements the July 2025 Northwood Declaration committing France and the UK to coordinate their independent nuclear deterrents amid European security threats.
• Three RAF Typhoons deployed from Coningsby participated with only air-to-air missiles and fuel tanks; the exercise demonstrated interoperability between the two European nuclear powers without using real nuclear weapons. Grok

The French Minister of the Armed Forces has just announced that British Eurofighter combat aircraft took part in a French nuclear exercise for the first time. - Bing

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[Sentry]

This is a really big deal. They never did this during the Cold War, because it was always demonstrated that the main nuclear deterrent was the American nuclear umbrella.

This is France & Britain emphasizing that they have their own deterrent in case America fails them.

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

France and Britain should develop their own defence. Relying on another is never reliable.

 

[Sentry]

Relying on another is never reliable.

This belief, if widespread, also applies to Japan, South Korea, Poland, Taiwan.... list goes on. The reason nuclear umbrellas became a thing was to prevent nuclear proliferation.

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

This belief, if widespread, also applies to Japan, South Korea, Poland, Taiwan.... list goes on. The reason nuclear umbrellas became a thing was to prevent nuclear proliferation.

It does apply. Because anytime you rely on someone else, you rely on either their benevolence or dependence. Either of those can change in time.

I am not arguing against the desire to prevent nuclear proliferation. I am acknowledging a reality.