1983: The NATO Exercise That Nearly Triggered Nuclear War

Added: 2026-05-26

In November 1983, NATO conducted the Able Archer 83 military command exercise, which simulated procedures for escalating a conflict into nuclear war using highly realistic methods and new communication systems. Due to extremely high tensions between NATO and the Soviet Union following events like the shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 earlier that year, Soviet intelligence misinterpreted parts of the exercise as preparations for a real surprise nuclear strike. In response, some Soviet military units increased readiness levels and nuclear-capable aircraft were placed on alert. Western leaders were initially unaware of how seriously the Soviet Union viewed the exercise, making this one of the closest moments the Cold War came to dangerous nuclear misunderstanding.