Defence: what is it, and who is taking part in ‘Steadfast Noon’, the NATO nuclear exercise in Italian airspace that has come under the scrutiny of AVS?
The Italian Air Force: ‘No live ammunition is to be used. Italia has hosted the exercise six times already: in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021 and 2023.”
Key points
- From Aviano to Ghedi: the bases involved
- Rutte: ‘Nuclear exercise sends a message of unity and determination’
- Bonelli (Avs) has announced a parliamentary question
- The Italian Air Force: the aim of these activities is to verify procedures
- Italia has hosted the exercise six times already
- The last edition, hosted by the Netherlands
This year, Italia is hosting the NATO exercise Steadfast Noon, which will begin on 13 October and will run for around ten days. This is an annual, scheduled training exercise, designed to maintain the readiness of the capabilities and procedures that contribute to the Alliance’s deterrence and defence. It focuses specifically on the nuclear deterrence component of the North Atlantic Alliance.
The exercise is a routine training activity that has been planned for some time and forms part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s wider efforts to maintain operational readiness and ensure transparency regarding its position on nuclear matters. As NATO has clarified, this year’s exercise will involve 17 nations (compared with 14 in 2025 and 13 in 2024). Turkey will also be taking part. The United States will be represented by flight crews and maintenance personnel. France remains excluded due to its decision not to join NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group.
From Aviano to Ghedi: the bases involved
The overall scale of the exercise is in line with previous editions. No live ammunition is used during “Steadfast Noon”. NATO has made it clear that the exercise is not linked to current world events and is not directed against any country. It will involve the air bases at Aviano, in the province of Pordenone, and Ghedi, in the province of Brescia, as well as ‘various locations throughout the area of responsibility’ well beyond northern Italia.
Didn’t Italia mention ‘Steadfast Noon’ as a nuclear exercise? ‘We have been coordinating closely with Italia’ and ‘I would like to emphasise that, on the contrary, we have been working in close collaboration with Italia on communications, and I believe, in any case, that there is full agreement that Steadfast Noon is a nuclear exercise’, clarified NATO’s Head of Nuclear Policy, Nassima Barrows, whilst meeting with a group of media representatives, including the ANSA news agency.
“It is essential to ensure both discipline and the ability to work together for collective defence, of which the nuclear mission is a crucial component,” added Colonel David Bull, the Alliance’s Head of Nuclear Operations.
