From 13 to 24 October, more than 70 aircraft and around 2,000 personnel from fourteen NATO nations participated in the large-scale Steadfast Noon training event. Although no live weapons were involved, the exercise demonstrated NATO’s ability to safely and effectively execute its nuclear deterrence mission through complex multinational flying operations.

Volkel Air Base twice home of German and Italian Tornados
The foreign activity at Volkel actually started several weeks earlier. During September, German and Italian Panavia Tornado IDS aircraft deployed to the Dutch air base for a week of intensive training with the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s F-35A. The deployment served as a work-up for Steadfast Noon, allowing the participating squadrons to refine mission planning, interoperability and flying procedures before the start of NATO’s flagship nuclear deterrence exercise. The training also marked one of the first opportunities for the Dutch F-35A to operate extensively alongside its German and Italian counterparts in the Dual-Capable Aircraft role.

When the exercise officially began in October, the Tornados returned to Volkel. Germany deployed Tornado IDS aircraft from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33 at Büchel, while Italy contributed Tornado IDS aircraft from 6° Stormo at Ghedi. Together with the Dutch F-35As they flew missions over the North Sea and north-western Europe, supported by tanker, surveillance and command-and-control aircraft.