France extends ‘nuclear umbrella' to allies as Rafales exercise across Europe

French Rafales, including nuclear-capable aircraft, exercising with Swedish Gripens during Exercise ‘Pégase 25'. (French Armed Forces)

The French government has extended the protection of its “nuclear umbrella” to allied forces as its nuclear-capable Dassault Rafale combat aircraft conduct joint exercises with the air forces of European NATO members.

With the Forces Aériennes Stratégiques (Strategic Air Forces) Rafales and their support aircraft deploying across three European allies for Exercise ‘Pégase (Pegasus) 25', French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said the mission showcases the French Air and Space Force's capability to deploy rapidly and extensively, both independently and in co-ordination with France's European allies.

“Our Rafale jets, supported by their dedicated tankers, are en route to Sweden to participate in collaborative exercises with our Scandinavian allies. Further on, they will extend their deployment to Poland and Croatia,” the minister said on 23 April. Speaking at the same time to Swedish national media, France's ambassador to Sweden, Thierry Carlier, noted, “As [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron has said, it is of course the case that our French vital interests also include the interests of our allies. In this perspective, the nuclear umbrella also applies to our allies, and of course, Sweden is among them.”

The exercises involve six conventional- and nuclear-capable Rafales, as well as one Airbus A330 Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A330-200 Phénix (Phoenix) Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) and two Airbus DS A400M transport aircraft.

For more information on France's airborne nuclear deterrent, please see France to beef up air-launched nuclear deterrence with new Rafale basing .