In a significant move towards greater international collaboration, the US Space Force will cede unilateral control over the objectives of its future Schriever Wargames, opting instead for a joint planning process with its allies.
A Collaborative Approach
„For the last 25 years, the Schriever Wargame series has been bringing nations together to work towards shared security and interoperability in the space domain,” stated Col. Shannon DaSilva, Space Delta 10 commander. „And in the future, with Schriever Wargame 2027, these nations will set the objectives for the war game for the first time jointly as a group.” This marks a pivotal shift from a US-centric approach to one that is more internationally focused.
Less US-Centric
Col. DaSilva emphasized the intent to make the wargames „less, intentionally less, US-centric.” The goal is for all participating nations to jointly set the objectives for Schriever Wargame 2027, testing operational concepts that are more internationally focused.
Schriever Wargame 2025: A Glimpse into the Future
This year’s Schriever Wargame Capstone (SW 25), running from August 10-21 at Maxwell Air Force Base, involves over 350 participants from the US Department of Defense, industry, and partner nations. The biennial event explores strategic challenges in a future conflict scenario.
Diverse Participation
Nine allied and partner nations are participating in SW 25: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Italy and Norway are attending as observers for the first time.
Indo-Pacific Focus
Lt. Col. Justin Jones, commander of Delta 10’s Operations Squadron, revealed that SW 25 is centered on conflict in the Indo-Pacific theater a decade in the future. The focus is on how to operate together and develop partnerships in that region to meet space-focused competitive endurance objectives.
Cutting-Edge Technology
This year’s game incorporates „five advanced notional technology concepts” to stimulate discussion on future investment and integration. These technologies, focused on data sharing and decision-making, are designed to enhance coalition efforts and improve situational awareness.
Future Investments
Col. DaSilva noted that the technology concepts were chosen to explore potential areas for future investment discussions with partners, including space domain awareness, communication, and collaboration tools.
Navigating Classification Challenges
Due to differing classification rules among participating nations, specific details about the technology concepts remain limited. Col. DaSilva emphasized the importance of being sensitive to the fact that there isn’t a common, approved security classification guide to the game, which impacts the level of information that can be shared openly.
