Space Force Plans Aggressor Satellites to Sharpen Orbital Combat Training

The U.S. Space Force is advancing plans to deploy dedicated “aggressor satellites” that can mimic hostile behaviors in orbit. These platforms are intended to serve as realistic adversaries during training and test events—part of a broader push by the service to prepare Guardians for future space conflict scenarios.

From Simulated Threats to On-Orbit Adversaries

In conventional air combat training, “red force” aggressor squadrons play the role of enemy aircraft using tactics and platforms that replicate adversary capabilities. The U.S. Air Force has long used this model in exercises like Red Flag. The Space Force now seeks a similar construct in orbit.

Col. Max Lantz, commander of Space Delta 11 under the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), confirmed that the service is actively exploring options for fielding on-orbit aggressor satellites. These would be designed not as weaponized platforms but as tools to simulate adversary behaviors such as close approaches (RPO—rendezvous and proximity operations), jamming attempts, or unusual orbital maneuvers.

“We’re looking at how we can put things into orbit that act like threats,” Lantz said during a Mitchell Institute event on May 1st. “We want our Guardians to train against real-world behaviors.”

Why Aggressor Satellites Matter

The push for aggressor satellites reflects growing recognition within the Pentagon that space is no longer a sanctuary domain. China’s Shijian-21 satellite demonstrated active debris removal—and potentially co-orbital counterspace capabilities—while Russia’s Cosmos-2543 previously approached U.S. government satellites in what officials called “concerning” proximity operations.

Simulating such behaviors with terrestrial models or software-only simulations lacks the realism needed for operationally relevant training. STARCOM wants Guardians exposed to dynamic threats in real orbital environments—especially given the increasing complexity of space traffic management and potential gray zone activities.

Key objectives include:

• Training satellite operators on how to detect and respond to suspicious RPO behavior
• Testing command-and-control systems under realistic stressors
• Validating TTPs (tactics, techniques, procedures) for defensive counterspace operations
• Building operator confidence through live scenario-based learning

Design Considerations and Constraints

The envisioned aggressor satellites would likely be smallsats or cubesats equipped with propulsion systems capable of performing RPO maneuvers without posing actual risk to operational assets. They may also carry payloads capable of simulating jamming or spoofing signals within tightly controlled parameters.

Lantz emphasized that these platforms would not be armed or destructive but rather emulate threat signatures for training fidelity. “We want them safe but realistic,” he noted.

A key challenge lies in balancing realism with safety—ensuring that any close approach remains within accepted norms and avoids triggering unintended escalation or confusion among international observers.

Another consideration is cost-efficiency: leveraging commercial buses or rideshare launches could make such programs more sustainable over time. The use of modular satellite architectures may allow rapid reconfiguration between exercises.

Cislunar Training Frontier Expands Scope

The scope of potential aggression simulation isn’t limited to low Earth orbit (LEO). As NASA’s Artemis program expands human presence toward lunar orbit—and China accelerates its own cislunar ambitions—the Space Force must prepare for operations beyond geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO).

Lantz confirmed STARCOM is investigating how training can extend into cislunar space—a vastly different environment with unique navigation challenges due to gravitational influences from both Earth and Moon.

This aligns with broader Department of Defense interest in maintaining freedom of action across all orbital regimes. Aggressor assets capable of operating—or at least simulating behavior—in these extended domains could become critical tools for future readiness assessments.

Tactical Implications for Future Conflicts

The introduction of on-orbit aggressors would mark a significant evolution in military space doctrine—from passive surveillance toward active defense preparation. In contested scenarios involving anti-satellite weapons (ASAT), electronic warfare from orbit, or kinetic RPO threats, trained Guardians will need rapid decision-making skills grounded in lived experience—not just classroom theory.

This capability also supports joint force integration by allowing more robust experimentation with multi-domain kill chains involving air-, sea-, land-, cyber-, and space-based assets working together under contested conditions.

Aggressor Programs Already Underway?

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has previously explored technologies related to RPO demonstration via programs like Mycroft and ANGELS (Automated Navigation and Guidance Experiment for Local Space). While not explicitly labeled as “aggressors,” these efforts laid groundwork for maneuverable inspection-type spacecraft.

No formal program name has yet been announced by STARCOM regarding an official aggressor satellite initiative—but industry watchers expect announcements within FY2025 budget cycles if funding aligns with stated priorities from Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman’s “Competitive Endurance” vision document released earlier this year.

The Road Ahead: Doctrine Meets Technology

If implemented effectively, aggressor satellites could become foundational tools not only for operator proficiency but also doctrine development across allied forces engaging in combined orbital defense planning. NATO members have already begun integrating space into joint exercises like Global Sentinel; simulated adversaries could raise realism significantly during coalition drills.

Conclusion: From Conceptual Threats to Realistic Readiness

The U.S. Space Force’s plan to field on-orbit aggressor satellites represents a pivotal shift toward treating space as an operational warfighting domain requiring live-force-on-force preparation methods akin to those used by other services. By investing now in threat-representative systems—even if non-lethal—the service aims to ensure its personnel are ready not just technically but tactically when deterrence fails and conflict extends above Earth’s atmosphere.