The United States Space Force is training to prepare for a hypothetical European conflict.
Space Force Guardians from the 392nd Combat Training Squadron recently completed Space Flag 23-1, the branch’s first program to “practice combat tactics in a U.S. European Command scenario,” according to a statement (opens in new tab) released by Space Training and Readiness Command, or STAR Command, the service’s education, training and test component. The two-day exercise saw Space Force personnel plan mock missions and simulate space combat operations that could be used in a real conflict.
During the training exercise at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Space Force personnel trained alongside counterparts from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, offering the chance to increase cooperation among the service’s allies. “Nowhere else can U.S. and coalition forces train together with the specificity needed to improve space combat tactics,” Schramm said in the statement. “We will fight as a coalition in space, and these opportunities are invaluable in building the team that will fight together if the need arises.”
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The simulated European conflict of Space Flag 23-1 comes as a real conflict unfolds in Eastern Europe as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues. Throughout the war, space has played a key role as satellites operated by the United States and its commercial partners continue to provide intelligence and communications for Ukrainian forces.
While it is unknown exactly what type of “space combat tactics” were practiced in Space Flag 23-1, previous US Space Force training exercises have been conducted in recent months to build expertise in “space domain awareness, intelligence, warning and surveillance, navigational warfare, orbital warfare and satellite communication.”
Members of the 392d Combat Training Squadron stand with SPACE FLAG 23-1 participants for a group photo at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Dec. 5. 2022. (Image credit: US Space Force photo by Judi Tomich)
SpaceX’s Starlink satellites have was front and center in this effort, providing internet essential for communication for Ukrainian forces after Russian attacks destroyed most of the country’s existing infrastructure.
In response to the widespread use of Starlink satellites, Russia stated that commercial satellites could become a “legitimate target” for its forces in military conflicts. The White House said in return that “any attack on US infrastructure will be met with a response […] at a time and manner of our choosing.”
Russia was even signal jamming and carry out cyber attacks on Starlink satellites — exactly the type of event that Space Force Guardians will one day have to respond to in the event of a military conflict.
Space Force’s mission is becoming more essential to US military operations as anti-satellite capabilities increase globally. It covers a wide range of concepts including destructive anti-satellite missiles laser “dazzlers” which satellite optics can be blinding and a variety of methods to jam satellites’ transmissions .
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