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Chief of Space Operations\u00a0Gen. Chance Saltzman (U.S. Space Force) Andy Morataya<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, Space Force stood up System Delta 81<\/a>, a task-oriented unit focused on aligning acquisition efforts with operational test and training. On Tuesday, Saltzman outlined plans to improve the \u201cGuardian experience\u201d in the OTTI space.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen this is all in place, there\u2019s a ton of elements to it. I mean, from high-fidelity simulators to virtual ranges to constructive environments where people are distributed, but they\u2019re collaborating in a central environment,\u201d Saltzman said. \u201cWe need to send people physically to ranges; we need live ranges to get live data. All of that has to be considered a part of the test and training infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n Realistic threat replication is another essential component of the training plan, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll hear about the Air and Space Forces talking about aggressors; we train people to pretend to be the adversary<\/a>, that they\u2019re trained in adversary tactics. And so they can challenge our forces, our operators, in ways that are likely to happen if an adversary were to engage us,\u201d Saltzman said. \u201cAnd so you bring all that together, and you create a more realistic training environment for what a high-intensity fight might look like. And then it\u2019s about reps and sets \u2013 like, how many times can they practice a tactic? How many times can they validate that the training produces the procedure that works on an operationally relevant timeline? So that test and training infrastructure is a lot of hardware and software to create that virtual environment, but also it\u2019s a live environment where we\u2019re buying assets for the purpose of test and training.\u201d<\/p>\n In Space Force\u2019s analysis, the space domain is steadily becoming more warlike. Earlier this year, Saltzman discussed China\u2019s development of \u201ckiller satellites\u201d<\/a> and other means to disrupt other nations\u2019 space assets.\u00a0Russia has similar capabilities, and in some cases, even more concerning ones on the horizon<\/a>.<\/p>\n Chinese counterspace capabilities are becoming increasingly sophisticated, according to space watchers. The Secure World Foundation<\/a> released a report this year citing reports that China may have launched a satellite to geostationary orbit for jamming purposes. A fact sheet <\/a>from the same organization outlined up to three Chinese programs aimed at providing direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) capabilities and assessed the country\u2019s ability to target satellites in low earth orbit as \u201clikely mature.\u201d The last known or suspected Chinese DA-ASAT test in space was in April 2023, reaching a suborbital altitude, according to the fact sheet. In addition to these ground-based anti-satellite missiles, China has fielded ground-based lasers that can also disrupt, degrade or damage satellites on orbit.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the mid-to-late 2020s, we expect [China] to deploy systems high enough in power that they can physically damage satellite structures,\u201d Saltzman said in April, according to a DefenseOne report<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is in addition to satellites that can manipulate other satellites in orbit. Their capabilities can be used for peaceful means, like refueling other on-orbit platforms, which China has demonstrated, or to disrupt, degrade, and destroy satellites. Everything from firing projectiles to radio frequency jamming to spraying aerosols can be used in close proximity to the targeted satellite with temporary or permanent effects. <\/p>\n U.S. space aggressor capabilities\u00a0can look like electronic warfare and jamming simulations, but they can also mean friendly satellites masquerading as hostile ones, Saltzman told The War Zone.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing like propagating RF [radio frequency] through the atmosphere, out to orbit, and tracking satellites,\u201d Saltzman said. \u201cIt has to happen real. You can \u2018white card<\/a>\u2018 a lot of important details away. But connecting to the satellite control network, making sure that the RF link is maintained through a lower orbit, [passing] through weather that can sometimes affect the RF signal \u2013 all that has to work. And if you do that with a thinking adversary, meaning that the satellite you\u2019re trying to use is being flown by aggressors, then that\u2019s a live environment, and they\u2019re trying to make it harder for you to do your job \u2026 So yes, we do want to go to a live aggressor force.\u201d<\/p>\n This desire will affect purchasing strategies, Saltzman said. For every orbital regime in which Space Force operates, he states, some of the satellites the service purchases should be test and training articles, just as the Air Force reserves some of the aircraft for test, development, and training. This is true for the USAF\u2019s three aggressor squadrons, in particular, which fly F-16s<\/a> and F-35s<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to have satellites that are available for test and training,\u201d the Chief of Space Operations said. \u201cWe have some options like that now, but not enough, in my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna noted that some on-orbit aggressor training is already taking place involving electronic warfare \u201clive fires.\u201d<\/p>\n Space Force does have dedicated space aggressor squadrons whose work involves simulating jamming attacks and other electronic warfare and cyber threats.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 57th Space Aggressor squadron, activated in 2021 at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado, \u201cinstills an adversary-focused warfighting culture by knowing, teaching, and replicating modern, emerging, and integrated space threats via adversary threat academics and virtual\/live replication of adversary space and counterspace threats,\u201d according to its mission statement.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Aggressor-F-16-alaska-copy.jpg\")
An aggressor F-16 flying over Alaska. (USAF) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Satellite-attacks.jpg\")
An infographic from the Defense Intelligence Agency depicting a number of ways in which one satellite might attack another, including by acting as kinetic kill vehicle.,\u00a0DIA <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/f-35a-65th-aggressor.jpg\")
F-35A Joint Strike Fighters assigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron. USAF <\/p>\n
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Insignias of the 57th and 527th Space Aggressor Squadrons (U.S. Space Force) <\/p>\n