Britain and France have for the first time held a joint exercise simulating a nuclear strike, with British Typhoon fighter jets taking part alongside French Rafale aircraft, the countries’ defence ministries said Friday.
The exercise, codenamed “Rummy”, took place on Tuesday evening and involved Britain’s Royal Air Force jets flying alongside French aircraft as part of a simulation involving France’s airborne nuclear capability. No nuclear weapons were used.
French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the exercise showed that the two countries could coordinate their nuclear deterrence despite maintaining independent forces.
“Our nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom continues to deepen,” the French armed forces ministry said in a statement, adding that British Typhoons had participated in a French nuclear exercise alongside Rafale jets for the first time.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the two countries remained committed to European security and to maintaining nuclear deterrence.
“In an increasingly dangerous world, our adversaries should be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and France stand together in their commitment to European security and to maintaining the deterrence that has helped preserve peace for generations,” he said.
The exercise follows an agreement reached by Britain and France in July 2025 to strengthen cooperation between their independent nuclear forces, amid growing security concerns in Europe and uncertainty over US security commitments.
In March, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to expand France’s nuclear arsenal and offered European allies closer cooperation, including joint exercises and the possible temporary deployment of French nuclear-capable assets on their territory.
France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, while Britain has 225, according to estimates cited in media reports. The two countries are the only nuclear-armed states in Europe recognised under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
