NATO annually conducts nuclear deterrence maneuvers, baptized as Steadfast Noon o Firm noon. This year will be no exception, despite recent threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to use atomic weapons in Ukraine.
“Canceling them would send the wrong signal,” explained the secretary general of the Alliance on Tuesday. Jens Stoltenberg, at a press conference prior to the meeting of defense ministers of the member countries. Thus, the exercisesroutines” will take place next week in different parts of Europe and will focus on “maintaining the organization’s deterrence capacity safe, secure and effective“.
To date, NATO had maintained a low information profile about these trainings, organized each time by a different partner. For example, the exact place where the operations are carried out is not usually published. In 2020 it was only specified that they were carried out in Western Europe and the North Sea. Last year these took place in southern Europe.
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This 2022 everything indicates that it will take place in Western Europe, “more than 1,000 kilometers from RussiaAccording to the agency Eph citing allied sources.
What is known is that for Steadfast Noon are used flights with fighters with double capacity; that is, combat aircraft that can perform both conventional and nuclear missions, such as the F-35. “The exercises also involve ordinary aircraft, supported by surveillance and refueling aircraft,” it is detailed. it’s a statement.
Aircraft with double capacity.
“No real weapons are used,” NATO says on its website. However, the exercises are designed to rehearse the use of B61 tactical nukes that the United States has deployed in military bases in Turkey and at least four European countries: Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.
In total, it is estimated that there about 150 weapons of this type stored, ready to be loaded onto planes and dropped by the Alliance toward an enemy target, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
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It is an artifact that in its most developed version can have a power of 340 kilotons, which is equivalent to 11 Hiroshimas. During the cold war, the US sent these bombs to the European continent to deter Russia and reassure the allies. Since then they have remained in the territory, although the Alliance has considerably reduced the number of atomic weapons deployed in Europe (close to 90%) to comply with nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
