Hosted by the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), with the 392nd Combat Training Squadron (CTS) playing a pivotal role, RED SKIES focused on enhancing the tactical capabilities of Guardians from the Space Operations Command (SpOC). This collaboration is crucial as the USSF continues to evolve and assert its position as a distinct branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, dedicated to space warfare and operations.
Brig. Gen. Todd Moore, STARCOM deputy commander, emphasized the exercise's importance, stating, "This 'first-ever' will become a mainstay in how SpOC and STARCOM partner to ensure we achieve the true goals and objectives of advanced training." He further highlighted the iterative nature of this training, indicating a future where more SpOC Deltas can participate.
Initially, RED SKIES took the form of a simulation-based exercise, a strategic move aligning with the military's preference for realistic yet risk-free training methods. Lt. Col. Scott Nakatani, 392nd CTS commander, elaborated on the exercise's groundbreaking nature and its planned evolution. He noted, "RED SKIES is breaking ground for the U.S. Space Force...We are building service orbital warfare experience in simulation with an eye on transitioning RED SKIES into the live-fly on-orbit exercise."
The first execution of RED SKIES centered on the tactical command and control of multiple satellites, engaging Guardian operators in simulations where they confronted aggressors to achieve layered space effects. This provided invaluable insights for refining orbital warfare simulations and integrated sortie planning processes.
Capt. DeShawna Moore, the lead exercise planner of the 392nd CTS, lauded the exercise's success. She remarked on the vital integration among multiple deltas to address complex on-orbit challenges. The lessons learned from this exercise are poised to enhance future RED SKIES iterations and will be shared across USSF service exercises.
RED SKIES also aligns with the broader strategic vision for the USSF, as outlined by U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. In his C-Note #14, Gen. Saltzman underscored the USSF's role as a service branch, distinct from a mere 'combat support agency,' with potential responsibilities extending to controlling space domains by force, if necessary.
Brig. Gen. Moore added, "Competition and combat in space is new and current space capabilities are vulnerable. We need to be equipped and ready for any conflict in, from, or through space." This statement underlines the growing importance of space in national defense and the critical need for exercises like RED SKIES in preparing the USSF for any future contingencies.
Related Links
United States Space Force
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
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