Recent Space Flag featured simulated combat environment

The Space Force on Friday wrapped up a two-week Space Flag training exercise, the service's first to include a simulated combat environment available to the partner nations who participated in the event.

Held from Dec. 6-17 at Schriever Space Force Base, CO, the 13th Space Flag exercise included nine Space Force Deltas and representatives from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, according to a Dec. 20 press release.

The event is focused on deterring and denying adversary aggression and providing joint warfighters a realistic training environment. During this most recent Space Flag, participants were split into three cells representing Space Force guardians, a simulated adversary and command-and-control operators.

Brig. Gen. Shawn Bratton, the commander of Space Training and Readiness Command, said in the press release exercises like Space Flag are crucial to preparing guardians to operate in a threat environment.

“Though our goal is to avoid conflict, we must be prepared if it occurs,” Bratton said. “It is vitally important we provide space forces with realistic, threat-based training to enhance their ability to analyze and respond to current and future threats in space.”