NATO says Steadfast Noon 2026 exercise will test nuclear deterrence readiness

NATO is preparing its annual Steadfast Noon nuclear-deterrence exercise, scheduled to begin on October 13, 2026, with participation from 17 allied countries. The drills will rehearse procedures involving dual-capable aircraft, command arrangements, airbase support and the coordination required for the alliance's nuclear-sharing mission. Steadfast Noon is a training exercise using conventional training equipment rather than live nuclear weapons, and its stated objective is to verify readiness and interoperability across participating forces. The event does not represent a newly announced nuclear deployment or weapons transfer, and detailed exercise aircraft numbers have not been confirmed.