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Polish F-16s at Heart of NATO's Steadfast Noon 2024 Nuclear Exercises.
Polish F-16s have joined NATO’s annual nuclear exercises, Steadfast Noon 2024, which commenced on October 14, 2024. Organized by NATO and hosted this year by Belgium and the Netherlands, these exercises aim to reinforce the alliance’s nuclear deterrence capabilities against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions. This annual initiative brings together nearly 2,000 soldiers from thirteen NATO member nations and mobilizes around sixty aircraft. Although no live nuclear warheads are used, the exercise includes aircraft capable of carrying such weapons, underscoring NATO’s commitment to maintaining a credible and ready nuclear deterrent.
A Polish F-16 escorts a B1B Lancer during a training mission for Bomber Task Force Europe, May 29, 2020 (Picture source: US DoD)
The Polish F-16, an advanced version of the multi-role fighter, has been a major acquisition for the Polish Air Force since 2006. Equipped with Block 52 technology, these aircraft meet NATO's requirements with modern equipment, including the Pratt and Whitney F-100-229 engine, APG-68(V)9 radar for high-resolution imaging, and the ALQ-211(V)4 electronic warfare suite. The F-16 is also outfitted with the JHMCS system for off-boresight missile guidance and the Sniper ER advanced targeting pod, enhancing strike accuracy.
In terms of weaponry, Polish F-16s are armed with AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles, as well as guided munitions like JSOW and JDAM bombs, enabling operations in various weather and light conditions. They also feature the Goodrich DB-110 reconnaissance system, allowing real-time image capture to enhance surveillance and damage assessment capabilities. The acquisition of 48 of these aircraft has significantly strengthened Poland’s integration into NATO and European missions, equipping the alliance with a technologically advanced air force.
Four Polish F-16 fighters, along with a contingent of 90 air force personnel, are actively participating in Steadfast Noon. These forces, primarily from the 2nd Tactical Aviation Wing, based in Krzesiny near Poznań and Łask near Łódź, support NATO’s deterrence missions by escorting nuclear-capable aircraft, although they are not configured to carry nuclear bombs themselves. Their participation emphasizes the close operational integration of Polish air forces within NATO’s deterrence framework.
This year’s exercises include a wide range of aircraft, such as nuclear bombers, escort fighters, aerial refuelers, and reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft. Missions extend over Belgian and Dutch airspace, as well as the North Sea, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. The training program, meticulously coordinated, allows NATO forces to simulate nuclear scenarios while adhering to strict safety protocols.
A Polish F-16 flies toward the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., during an aerial refueling mission in support of the 2018 Baltic Operations exercise, Jun. 12, 2018 (Picture source: US DoD)
Steadfast Noon 2024 also marks a milestone with the introduction of the Dutch F-35A, used as a nuclear-capable carrier for the first time in these exercises. This upgrade symbolizes NATO’s ongoing modernization and diversification of its deterrence capabilities. The Netherlands, having received its first F-35A in January 2019, recently declared the aircraft fully operational for nuclear deterrence missions, boosting NATO’s flexibility and response readiness in Europe.
These October exercises are planned a year in advance and are considered routine by NATO. Their goal is to ensure safe, effective, and credible nuclear deterrence within the alliance. The NATO summit in Washington this year reaffirmed that NATO will retain its nuclear alliance status as long as nuclear weapons exist, underscoring that the alliance’s nuclear potential primarily aims to preserve peace and deter aggression.
This year’s NATO deterrence exercises occur only weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, heightening regional security concerns. However, NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has stated that there is currently no direct threat of nuclear weapon use by Russia. While he criticized Putin’s nuclear rhetoric as reckless and irresponsible, Rutte assured that no immediate signs suggest nuclear escalation.