French and British air forces have for the first time staged a joint exercise simulating a nuclear strike, the countries’ Defence Ministries said in a statement on Friday (October 23, 2026).

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“The exercise, codenamed “Rummy”, involved RAF Typhoon fighter jets alongside French Rafale aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea,” it said. “The exercise was conducted in compliance with security procedures, did not involve any actual nuclear weapons and was aimed at enhancing coordination between western Europe’s two nuclear powers,” the statement added.