The role of space capabilities in enabling Defence operations and decision-making came under the microscope at the inaugural Defence Space Domain Wargame, which brought together military and civilian participants from across the integrated force.
Hosted at Fairbairn, ACT, by Space Command and the Joint Experimentation Directorate at the Joint Experimentation and Wargaming Laboratory, the seminar-style activity, from August 31 to September 4, involved Australian Defence Force and Australian Public Service members, as well as Australian Government and partner nation delegates.
The participants examined Defence's reliance on space across a range of scenarios with the aim of improving understanding of how the space domain supports military operations.
The Joint Experimentation Directorate partners with stakeholders across Defence to apply rigorous, evidence-based approaches to exploring complex problems and generating actionable insights.
By combining Space Command's domain expertise with established wargaming methodologies, the activity enhanced participants' understanding of the opportunities, dependencies and vulnerabilities associated with the space domain while reinforcing its importance to Defence operations.
Director Joint Experimentation Directorate Captain Josh Wilson said the activity highlighted the importance of experimentation and wargaming in helping Defence understand increasingly complex operating environments.
"Activities such as the Defence Space Domain Wargame provide an opportunity to test assumptions, explore challenges and generate insights that inform future capability development and operational preparedness," Captain Wilson said.
Acting Director General Space Strategy and Plans, Group Captain Edgar Gonzalez, said space capabilities supported operations across every domain, and that wargame activities helped to foster a shared understanding of how the integrated force relies on space and promoted collaboration between stakeholders.
The activity is part of Space Command's efforts to enhance preparedness, experimentation and future force development while increasing awareness of the opportunities and challenges associated with operating in the space domain.
