Space Force to Launch Live Training Contractor Pool
The U.S. Space Force is preparing to establish a dedicated pool of contractors to support its growing demand for physical, live training environments by mid-2026, signaling a major step in the service’s broader effort to professionalize and enhance its readiness. According to the article “Space Force plans to create contractor pool for physical, live training needs in summer,” published by Breaking Defense, the initiative aims to expand and institutionalize training programs that currently rely heavily on ad hoc and limited support from existing defense industry partners.
Col. Raj Agrawal, commander of Space Training and Readiness Command’s (STARCOM) Delta 11, explained that the current setup for live training lacks the depth and infrastructure that analogous domains—such as the Air Force’s Red Flag exercises—have long enjoyed. In particular, the Space Force is seeking to fill capability gaps in constructing realistic training environments that simulate contested and congested operational conditions in orbit.
The new contractor pool, which Space Force officials anticipate forming by this summer, is intended to provide agile and scalable support across a range of physical training scenarios, including electronic warfare simulations, orbital conflict rehearsals, and live command-and-control exercises. While synthetic training environments have grown more sophisticated, military leaders emphasize that physical training remains essential to evaluating decision-making, equipment limitations, and the human dimension under operational stress.
The move represents a maturation of the Space Force’s doctrine and training architecture, aligning its readiness posture more closely with those of the other military branches. The establishment of Delta 11 itself, which is tasked with leading operational test and training for space forces, underscores the service’s intensifying focus on building a robust and skilled warfighting cadre.
Contractors expected to be included in the pool will likely emerge from among established defense industry players with space domain expertise, although Space Force leadership has signaled a willingness to consider innovative partners capable of adapting to the unique challenges of space conflict scenarios. The procurement strategy, which will likely go live in the form of a formal request for proposals later this year, will prioritize firms that can provide modular, sustainable, and secure infrastructure for a variety of training formats.
This evolution in training philosophy comes amid increasing geopolitical competition in orbit, with international rivals accelerating both civilian and military space initiatives. In this context, Space Force officials argue that comprehensive, reality-based training will be essential not only for mission success but for deterring aggression in the domain.
As STARCOM and its subordinate Deltas refine their approaches to doctrinal development, the contractor pool may become a central pillar of how the Space Force cultivates and sustains operational proficiency. Over time, these live training exercises are expected to inform not only operator readiness but also broader strategy, acquisition, and policy decisions in America’s newest military branch.
