# Canonical recap data for Able Archer 83 NATO Exercise (1983)
# Source: https://recap.at/1983/able-archer-83
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: able-archer-83
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1983/able-archer-83"
title: Able Archer 83 NATO Exercise
subtitle: NATO's military simulation nearly triggered Soviet response, bringing the Cold War closer to hot conflict than commonly known.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1983-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1983
decade: 1980
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Exercise Able Archer was an annual exercise by NATO military forces in Europe that practiced command and control procedures, with emphasis on transition from conventional operations to chemical, nuclear, and conventional operations during a time of war. When it was active, it was seen as the culmination of Exercise Aut
summaryLong: Exercise Able Archer was an annual exercise by NATO military forces in Europe that practiced command and control procedures, with emphasis on transition from conventional operations to chemical, nuclear, and conventional operations during a time of war. When it was active, it was seen as the culmination of Exercise Autumn Forge. The exercise is best known for Able Archer 83, which began on November 7, 1983 and is believed to have nearly started a nuclear war with the Soviet Union as the Soviets perceived the exercise as a ruse of war.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Able_Archer_83_After_Action_Report.jpg/1280px-Able_Archer_83_After_Action_Report.jpg"
heroImageCredit: US Air Force · via Wikipedia
importance: 76
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: ""
  title: Able archer
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- war
metaDescription: Exercise Able Archer was an annual exercise by NATO military forces in Europe that practiced command and control procedures, with emphasis on transition from co
wikidataQid: Q16935379
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20250928131052/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Able_Archer"
  capturedAt: 2025-09-28
  label: Able archer
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Able_Archer"
