How are NATO military exercises involving the powerful B-52 nuclear bombers

This Monday, October 17, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began its regular nuclear deterrence exercises, in a context of tensions with Russia due to the veiled threats of use of atomic weapons by the president Vladimir Putin to defend its territory, including the areas annexed from Ukraine. The maneuvers will last until October 30.

The idea of NATO is to prepare for the terror scenario of a nuclear war.

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Although the secrecy of NATO means that it is not known in detail how the exercises will be, in recent days some data has been advanced.

The exercise, called “Steadyfast Noon”, involves 14 countries of the Alliance. Up to 60 aircraft of various types, including . They will also be.

The American B-52 bomber. (AFP).

The b-52 aircraft They will fly from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, USA.

For these exercises, Belgium is used as the base country. There will also be flights over the North Sea and the United Kingdom, explained the NATO last week, when he made it clear that “no real weapons will be used”.

NATO stressed.

An F 16 fighter jet takes part in NATO’s Air Shielding exercise near the Lask airbase in central Poland on October 12, 2022. (RADOSLAW JOZWIAK / AFP)

For his part, the Secretary General of the NATOJens Stoltenberg, rejected any request to cancel the drill after Putin intensify its nuclear rhetoric.

“It would be a very wrong signal if we were to suddenly cancel a long-planned routine exercise due to the war in Ukraine.”Stoltenberg said last week.

NATO countries. (AFP).

The spokeswoman for the NATOOana Lungescu noted that the exercise will help .

According to the United States, the exercise is carried out every year. “We anticipate that the exercise will last several days. It will include actions within the normal limits of what Russia has done in the past. It will include live missile launches and a deployment of strategic assets.” said John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council. USA

The exercise is expected to focus on strategic weapons, that is, the testing of ballistic missile systems that Russia should give advance notice under treaty obligations.

An F 16 fighter jet takes part in NATO’s Air Shielding exercise near the Lask airbase in central Poland on October 12, 2022. (RADOSLAW JOZWIAK / AFP)

Although they participate fighter aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads, they will not carry live bombs. Conventional jets and surveillance and refueling aircraft are also routinely involved.

According to military experts, the drills will include practice on how to safely transport US nuclear weapons from underground stores to planes and mount them under fighters. However, training flights are carried out without bombs.

Nuclear weapons in the world: (AFP).

“This exercise helps ensure that the Alliance nuclear deterrent remains safe and effective”said the spokeswoman for the NATOOana Lungescu.

The new Strategic Concept of the NATOadopted by allied leaders at the Madrid summit in June, makes clear that “the fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.”

It also underlines that “as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will continue to be a nuclear alliance.”

Defense spending of NATO countries. (AFP).

Source: Elcomercio