What's happening? The EU's only nuclear-armed member scrambled Rafale jets

According to Index, Saint-Dizier Air Base supports the air component of France’s nuclear deterrence, while Taverny is home to the command and operational centers of the strategic forces.

The exercise involved Rafale fighter jets.

“We use real equipment and follow actual procedures under highly demanding conditions, with around 50 aircraft in the air. The only thing that is prohibited is flying with live nuclear warheads under the wings,” members of the French military said.

Instead of live ASMP-A nuclear missiles, the Rafale jets carried inert mock-ups matching the real weapons in weight and dimensions, which can be safely released.

The missile has a maximum range of around 500 kilometers and carries a 300-kiloton TNA nuclear warhead.

Exercise scenario and objectives

The simulation involved two teams: the “red” team represented the enemy, while the “blue” team operated against it.

“The goal is to ensure that we remain capable of carrying out such a mission in the future, even as technology continues to evolve at an ever-faster pace,” French military officials explained.

The crews were tasked with penetrating enemy defenses and delivering the missiles to precisely designated locations within a specified timeframe.

During the night flight, which lasted between six and eight hours, each Rafale crew refueled several times from one of 15 tanker aircraft. The fighter pilot must maneuver at very high speeds and low altitudes while doing so.

“The purpose is deterrence”

“The purpose of our mission is to prevent war and, consequently, the use of nuclear weapons. Poker is a demonstration of force precisely to ensure that this does not happen,” Commander Jean-Baptiste explained.

France has three air bases with a nuclear role — Saint-Dizier, Istres and Avord.

It also plans to reactivate the base at Luxeuil soon for future Rafale F5 aircraft.

It is also reported that orders to the bases come from a greater distance, from a bunker at the Taverny base, approximately 200 kilometers from Saint-Dizier. The bunker houses a command center with around 40 military personnel permanently stationed there.

France is currently the only country with nuclear weapons in the European Union, and there have been repeated discussions about potentially extending its nuclear protection to the entire bloc.

Meanwhile, France has established a system of “extended” nuclear deterrence, which a number of countries have already joined.