RAF Typhoons Join French Air Exercise Rummy
British and French aircraft trained together over the Mediterranean in a conventional air-combat role during an exercise that included a simulated nuclear strike mission.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Military
RAF Typhoons flew a conventional Offensive Counter Air role during French Exercise Rummy on October 20 and 21, 2025, escorting and protecting French Air Force strike aircraft from simulated adversaries over the Mediterranean. The exercise was the first time British aircraft took part in a French nuclear exercise, though no nuclear weapons were involved.
Why it matters
The participation comes under the Northwood Declaration, signed in 2025, which set up a joint nuclear steering group to coordinate policy, capabilities and operations between the two countries. Each nation keeps sovereign, independent nuclear forces and decision-making under the agreement.
The exercise ran on October 20 and 21, 2025, over the Mediterranean, with French Rafales launched from Saint-Dizier to simulate a nuclear strike mission. Aircraft counts and exercise results were not reported in the source material.
The players
Royal Air Force (RAF)
The United Kingdom's air force, which deployed Typhoon fighter jets to take part in the exercise alongside French forces.
French Air Force
The air arm of the French Armed Forces, whose Rafale strike aircraft carried out the simulated nuclear strike mission during the exercise.
The details
RAF Typhoons were tasked with escorting and protecting French Air Force strike aircraft from simulated adversaries, while French Rafales launched from Saint-Dizier to simulate a nuclear strike mission. The exercise was discussed in Parliament after a question from the Huntingdon constituency MP.
Timeline
October 20-21, 2025: Exercise Rummy runs over the Mediterranean.
2025: The Northwood Declaration is signed, establishing the joint nuclear steering group.
Big Picture
The exercise puts into practice the coordination framework of the Northwood Declaration, which created a joint nuclear steering group while leaving each country's nuclear forces sovereign and independent. It marks the first time British aircraft joined a French nuclear exercise under that arrangement.
The arrangement shows how allied air forces may train together, with defined command roles for conventional missions such as air defence and escort. Readers following defence policy can track how the Northwood Declaration's coordination framework develops in future exercises.
The takeaway
Joint exercises show how two sovereign nuclear powers can coordinate operations and planning while keeping separate command and decision-making authority over their own forces.
Further reading
For more on how defence forces train and coordinate across borders, see Military.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UK Defence Journal.
