RAF jets have joined French warplanes in a first-ever 'simulated nuclear strike' over the Mediterranean in a warning to Putin

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 October 2026 · last updated 24 October 2026.

The war game, codenamed 'Rummy', saw RAF Typhoons escort Rafales from Saint-Dizier air base before they struck fictional targets on Tuesday evening. No real weapons were used. French armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin hailed a 'decisive milestone', insisting independent nuclear forces do not 'preclude coordination'. Europe is uneasy over President Donald Trump's overtures to Russia and his criticism of Nato.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that Britain's adversaries 'should be in no doubt'.

France let foreign fighter jets train alongside its air-launched nukes for the first time.

Britain holds 225 warheads, while Russia and the US each have over 5,000.