The U.S. Space Force is expanding its search for training and testing technologies and is now planning to put more than a half billion dollars toward the effort in a few years.
The move comes as the service looks to close any gaps in the readiness of space operations and as concerns about Russia and China accelerate.
As such, the service is soliciting a wide range of technologies from private contractors — from physical testing ranges to synthetic battle environments — as part of its Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) program.
Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, said servicemembers, known as guardians, need to be adequately equipped to counter emerging threats. He noted that the OTTI program budget surged over the past several years from $40 million to approximately $600 million, reflecting the growing demand for cutting-edge simulators, range assets and live operational exercises.
Speaking at a recent Mitchell Institute event, he emphasized that current capabilities are insufficient, noting that traditional training programs have been primarily designed to teach operators how to fly satellites rather than to counter adversaries aiming to disrupt those capabilities.
“Just flying a military satellite communication system today doesn’t prepare you for the high-end fight,” Saltzman added. “If that’s all you do — stay procedurally current on your weapons system — you are not getting ready for that high op-tempo and that thinking adversary that’s going to try to deny that capability.”
Saltzman and other senior officials have warned about the expanding capabilities of Russia and China to interfere with or disable satellite systems. The challenge lies not only in addressing these threats but also in creating realistic training environments that simulate space-based conflict.
To address these concerns, the Space Force has implemented a “force generation model” requiring guardians to complete specialized training, Saltzman said. Units also will need access to enhanced simulators, range capabilities and an aggressor force that accurately replicates adversarial threats.
“In the current power competition, it’s not about operating a system and keeping it safe and alive,” Saltzman said. “You have to win against the thinking adversary. And we’re setting up the exercises and the training venues to be able to do that.”
‘Commercial solutions’ sought
The Space Force’s Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) has begun acquiring hardware and software for its new training infrastructure. Through a recent “Commercial Solutions Opening” solicitation, STARCOM has issued an open call for a broad range of training technologies and services, including space test systems, wargaming platforms, and virtual environments.
Col. Corey Klopstein, who leads the OTTI program, outlined three primary focus areas: a digital environment featuring simulated adversarial (red) and allied (blue) assets; a physical environment incorporating hardware like satellites, sensors and operations centers; and a cyber testing range dedicated to defensive cyber operations.
“Our goal is to leverage existing infrastructure as much as possible and then augment as needed to meet OTTI’s unique requirements,” Klopstein said at the Air & Space Forces Association’s recent warfare conference. “Guardians require different and more advanced training to win against the threats that we face, and that’s why OTTI is such a fundamental aspect of the success of the Space Force.”
Klopstein noted that more than 50 active contracts are currently supporting OTTI initiatives.
Industry officials warn about the complexity of integrating disparate training capabilities into a cohesive system. Dan McCullough, senior manager for space testing and training at Lockheed Martin, pointed to the enormous challenge of connecting various elements, including orbital warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations and cyber warfare.
“This is a massive system of systems,” McCullough said. “So it’s a pretty big, wicked problem to be able to bring all these capabilities together and integrate them.”
