The U.S. Space Force is hosting its inaugural international space wargame, Partner to Win, from November 2-6 in Orlando, Florida, with the South Korean Air Force among the participants. This new exercise, launched by the U.S. Space Force this year, aims to enhance allied nations’ readiness for joint space operations during crises by strengthening collaborative frameworks in policy, strategy, and operations.
The wargame brings together six nations: South Korea, the U.S., the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and Brazil. South Korea’s delegation is led by Colonel Kim Si-mon, head of the Air Force’s Space Center, accompanied by officials from the Air Force and Ministry of National Defense.
In February, South Korean Air Force Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak and then-U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations General Bradley Chance Saltzman discussed the wargame’s establishment and South Korea’s participation during a coordination call. Subsequently, the U.S. Space Force extended an official invitation to the South Korean Air Force to bolster bilateral space cooperation.
The exercise will employ a tabletop format, presenting participants with complex, hypothetical space crisis scenarios. Delegations will collaboratively develop strategies for deterrence, crisis management, and international cooperation in space-related emergencies.
For the South Korean military, this wargame offers an opportunity to observe U.S. Space Force training methods and refine their own operational wargame program developed by the Air Force Space Center. A key focus will be on enhancing decision-making processes and strategic elements of international cooperation during space crises.
The exercise will also allow the South Korean Air Force to assess its role and required capabilities in multinational joint space operations, informing future space operation strategies.
Additionally, the South Korean Air Force plans to strengthen its space cooperation network through practical meetings with other participating nations, exploring ways to expand collaboration and information sharing in space operations.
Colonel Kim Si-mon emphasized that this wargame is a crucial step in enhancing space cooperation with the allies, adapting to the evolving landscape of space operations. It’s committed to developing a Korean-style space situational awareness wargame program to actively contribute to joint space operational frameworks.
The participation in this cutting-edge exercise underscores South Korea’s growing role in space defense and its commitment to strengthening international partnerships in this critical domain.