TOULOUSE — In silent orbit around Earth, a potentially hostile satellite approaches an allied communication node, intentions unknown. French Space Command has determined the move is deliberate, and intelligence shows the enemy spacecraft is equipped with a robotic arm that would allow it to de-orbit the friendly asset. The French-led blue team moves a “patroller” satellite into a protective position – a capability France is working on, but now lacks – to block any hostile action by the U.S.-led red team.
While fictional, the scenario played out March 7 during Europe’s largest space wargames is credible and based on real capabilities, said Colonel Mathieu Bernabé, who is leading the exercise. During the event called AsterX 2024, some 190 participants from France and 15 partner countries are training for everything from jammed space communications to hostile satellites maneuvering to take out friendly orbiters. General Philippe Adam commented on the increasing dangerousness of space due to more capable and maneuverable satellites, increased militarization, and the rise of the space economy.
French President Emmanuel Macron created a military space command in 2019 to improve awareness of the security situation in space and protect the country’s satellites. France, with the most satellites in orbit of any European Union country, is aiming for operational capability by 2030, with the AsterX wargames being crucial for the French Space Command. The scenario of a gradually worsening crisis during the exercise highlights the potential threats and challenges that countries face in space operations.
Countries participating in the exercise include the U.S., U.K., Japan, South Korea, and EU partners, aiming to develop a common culture of space operations under realistic threat conditions. Interoperability challenges are numerous, with different vocabulary, procedures, and policies between countries’ space forces. France plans to increase its personnel to about 500 by 2025 and is prioritizing getting patroller satellites into orbit to strengthen its space capabilities. The exercise also aims to test Yoda agile satellite demonstrator and operational space-patrol capacity in the near future.
