Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons escorted French Rafale fighters during the first joint exercise involving France’s airborne nuclear-deterrence capability. The RUMMY drill, held on 20 and 21 October, saw Rafales from Saint-Dizier Air Base conduct a simulated nuclear strike over the Mediterranean with support from the British fighters. No nuclear weapons were used, and the exercise also involved A330 MRTT tanker aircraft.
The exercise brought together the RAF and France’s Strategic Air Forces, which operate the airborne element of the French nuclear deterrent. Its objectives included improving coordination and interoperability between the two services and developing a better understanding of their respective operating procedures.
The Rafales flew the simulated strike under escort from the non-nuclear RAF Typhoons, demonstrating conventional support for a nuclear mission without British aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. The participating RAF units, number of Typhoons and detailed aircraft loadouts were not disclosed.
RUMMY implements closer cooperation agreed in the Northwood Declaration, signed by France and the UK in July 2025. The declaration allows the countries to coordinate their independent nuclear forces while retaining separate national decision-making and commits them to deeper cooperation across nuclear policy, capabilities and operations.