British Typhoons join French nuclear exercise for first time

Britain’s Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters joined French Rafale jets in an exercise involving France’s airborne nuclear capability for the first time, France’s armed forces ministry said. The UK Ministry of Defence said no nuclear weapons were involved. The French ministry said the Typhoons escorted the Rafales during the exercise on Tuesday evening. It described the drill, called Rummy, as the first French nuclear exercise to involve British jets. One account placed the flight over the Mediterranean; the ministry information also said the Rafales took off from Saint-Dizier Air Base in eastern France. The UK Ministry of Defence said the exercise was intended to improve cooperation between the two air forces. It said the drill demonstrated their readiness to respond together to serious threats. The ministry’s statement that no nuclear weapons were involved distinguishes the exercise from a live nuclear operation. French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the two countries’ independent nuclear forces did not prevent coordination, and said their nuclear cooperation was deepening. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the exercise as evidence of the...