Exercise Space Flag is a United States Space Force (USSF) exercise dedicated to providing tactical space units with advanced training in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited (CDO) environment. The intent of Space Flag is to provide space forces with realistic, threat-based training to enhance their ability to analyze and respond to current and future threats within a broader warfighting context. Space Flag is the USSF's sole large-force employment exercise focused on gaining and maintaining space superiority and was modeled after the U.S. Air Force's Red Flag Exercise.[1][2]
With the activation of Space Training and Readiness Delta Provisional (STAR Delta) on 24 July 2020, the unit responsible for Space Flag has been re-organized under STAR Delta[3] and temporarily re-designated STAR Delta, Operating Location-Alpha (OL-A). STAR Delta, OL-A was previously known as Distributed Mission Operations Center-Space (DMOC-S)[3] or the 705th Combat Training Squadron (CTS), OL-A[4] and is located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.
The first Space Flag was held in April 2017.[5][6] For the first two calendar years—2017 and 2018—Space Flag occurred twice per year. Starting in 2019, Space Flag increased to three times per year,[7] with one iteration as a coalition event. Space Flag 19-3 in August 2019, was the first event to include coalition partners from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States.[8][9]
The 527th Space Aggressor Squadron and 26th Space Aggressor Squadron operate the red cell and provide Opposing force functions or OPFOR for Space Flag.[6]
Notable appearances in media
Space Flag was loosely referenced in episode 5 of the Netflix series Space Force (TV series).
References
- ^ "CHIPS Articles: Space-superiority exercise, Space Flag, concludes successfully on U.S. Space Force birthday". www.doncio.navy.mil. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
- ^ "Air Force's Space Flag Training Exercise Seeks to Hone Warfighting Skills". Executive Gov. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
- ^ a b "Space Flag, the premier exercise for training space forces, successfully concludes for the". United States Space Force. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- ^ "Space Force begins transition into field organizational structure". United States Space Force. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- ^ "Air Force launches "Space Flag" exercise inspired by IMAX-worthy Red Flag war games". SpaceNews. 2017-05-03. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
- ^ a b "AFSPC makes history with inaugural Space Flag exercise". Air Force Space Command. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Risen, Tom (July 3, 2018). "U.S. Air Force to expand Space Flag satellite war game". Aerospace America.
- ^ Blenkin, Max (2019-08-26). "Australia and coalition partners attend USAF Space Flag exercise". www.spaceconnectonline.com.au. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
- ^ "Space Flag holds first exercise with coalition partners". Air Force Space Command. Retrieved 2020-12-01.