The US Space Force has conducted a virtual exercise to test the ability of the country’s satellite network to resist various types of attack, particularly those from Russian and Chinese anti-satellite weapons.
Conducted at the Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado, the 10-day trial simulated an aggressive near-peer adversary that could be pitted against the American satellite network.
Simulated threats reportedly included kinetic anti-satellite interceptor missiles and a variety of electronic warfare threats such as jamming.
In addition to US Space Force personnel, the recently concluded exercise involved representatives from allied countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The exercise was conducted soon after Russia conducted an anti-satellite weapon test against a defunct Soviet-era satellite in November. The weapon system reportedly struck the target, creating around 1,500 pieces of space debris.
Growing Concern
The US slammed Russia for conducting the missile strike exercise, calling it “dangerous and irresponsible,” as it left a debris cloud that forced the International Space Station to take evasive action.
The US Department of Defense released a report in May that said both Russia and China view counterspace capabilities as a means to reduce the effectiveness of the US military and its allies.
To bolster its space capabilities, the US Air Force Research Laboratory said it is committing up to $1 billion to develop technology and equipment to support a wide variety of space missions.
The service also announced that all satellite communications billets, funding, and mission responsibility of the US Army and Navy would be transferred to the Space Force to consolidate and increase its operational capabilities.