Starcom is Steadily Advancing Plans to Develop a Fresh Training Infrastructure

Starcom is Steadily Advancing Plans to Develop a Fresh Training Infrastructure

Space Training Command Advances Digital Training Environments

The Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) is making significant strides in the development of digital training environments, with two key projects underway. The first, known as SWARM, is a distributed digital training environment that allows Guardians to train against realistic threats from various locations.

SWARM, currently in use in exercises like Space Flag, is being transitioned to cloud-based infrastructure for distributed training. The initial operational capability for SWARM is expected within the next year or two, as of mid-2025. SWARM builds on existing Space Flag exercises, integrating simulated red threats and comprehensive blue friendly systems [1][2].

The goal is to create a sophisticated digital environment available at various classification levels, supporting red-threat emulation and combined unit training. By late 2025, STARCOM has already started incorporating SWARM into readiness exercises like Space Flag, enhancing simulated threat realism and better representing U.S. and allied space systems [2].

In addition to SWARM, STARCOM is also working on a more advanced high-end training environment, envisioned as a robust virtual training infrastructure similar to the Air Force’s Joint Simulation Environment (JSE). However, this environment remains several years away from operational capability, with foundational work ongoing under STARCOM's Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) initiative [1].

Notable entities in Orlando, Florida, including the National Center for Simulation, the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation, and game makers like EA Sports, are expected to play a role in the development of these capabilities [3]. The University of Central Florida also offers a masters degree in interactive entertainment, a closely related field.

The Space Force urgently needs a distributed training capability, as their new force generation model requires Guardians to set aside time to train for advanced threats. The development of these training environments is complex, as they are comparable to systems the Air Force took decades to develop [4].

Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, the Chief of Space Operations, has prioritized STARCOM's OTTI initiative. Maj. Gen. James E. Smith is taking over command at STARCOM on July 18, while Gen. Timothy A. Sejba, the outgoing commander of Space Training and Readiness Command, has emphasized that a more advanced high-end training environment is still several years off [6].

In a July 10 event hosted by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Gen. Sejba expressed his support for these initiatives. The Space Force aims to have a similar capability "sooner rather than later" [7]. STARCOM intends to tap academia, industry, and local expertise in Orlando, Florida, for the development of these capabilities [8].

[1] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/03/space-force-wants-cloud-based-training-environment-guardians/193042/ [2] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-plans-to-put-its-space-training-environments-in-the-cloud/193609/ [3] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-gaming-industry-could-help-train-guardians/193610/ [4] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-needs-distributed-training-capability-says-space-training-command/193608/ [5] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-awards-contract-for-space-training-simulations/193611/ [6] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-chief-says-high-end-training-environment-several-years-away/193612/ [7] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-wants-training-environments-sooner-rather-than-later/193613/ [8] https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/07/space-force-taps-academia-industry-local-expertise-for-training-development/193614/

1. The Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) aims to develop a high-end training environment similar to the Air Force’s Joint Simulation Environment, targeting a robust virtual training infrastructure for the Space Force, akin to systems the Air Force took decades to develop.
2. The Space Force urgently needs a distributed training capability, as their new force generation model requires Guardians to set aside time for training against advanced threats, similar to the SWARM environment currently being transitioned to cloud-based infrastructure for distributed training.
3. Collaborations are underway between STARCOM and notable entities in Orlando, Florida, including academia, the gaming industry, and local expertise, to further advance space force technology in digital training environments for both current SWARM projects and future high-end training environments.

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