PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
U.S. Space Command supported North American Aerospace Defense Command's Arctic Air Defense Exercise on June 10-18.
As part of the exercise, AMALGAM DART, USSPACECOM used U.S. Space Force's recent tactical responsive launch technology demonstration to simulate a rapid reconstitution of space capabilities to ensure continuous space-based missile detection and warning.
"U.S. Space Force's technical demonstration to rapidly launch mission critical satellites on demand is key to deterring near-peer competitors from extending conflict into space," U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, USSPACECOM commander, said. "During conflict, the ability to rapidly reconstitute degraded systems within hours forces adversaries to rethink the economic benefit of attacking on-orbit assets. This capability allows USSPACECOM to provide warfighters continuous access to space-based capabilities for multi-domain overmatch."
Congress authorized the creation of the TacRL program in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to accelerate concepts and procedures for responsive launch, develop related processes and identify required basing infrastructure.
Exercise AMLAGAM DART is designed to train and exercise NORAD's ability to conduct Operation NOBLE EAGLE, the name given to the military response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and applies to all air defense missions in North America.
USSPACECOM conducts operations in, from and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the joint and combined force and defend vital interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.