France and Britain hold their first joint nuclear strike exercise

Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons escorted French Rafale jets on a simulated nuclear strike over the Mediterranean, France's Armed Forces Ministry said. No nuclear weapons were involved.

Background

France has an airborne nuclear force that Britain lacks, and both countries keep independent nuclear forces whose use is decided separately.

"Having independent nuclear forces doesn't exclude coordination."

— Catherine Vautrin, French armed forces minister