The Space Force is accelerating its efforts to establish a dedicated test and training range for space-based operations, issuing a request for proposals for a massive, multi-vendor contract valued at $981 million. This initiative aims to provide a realistic environment for Guardians to hone their skills and validate novel technologies in the increasingly critical domain of space.
The solicitation, formally known as the National Space Test and Training Complex Innovative Technology and Engineering-Space Test and Range (NITE-STAR), was released on March 18 by Space Systems Command. Initial contract awards are anticipated this summer. The program represents a significant investment in the Space Force’s ability to prepare for and respond to evolving threats in orbit, moving beyond ad-hoc solutions to a more sustainable and comprehensive training infrastructure.
According to Colonel Corey Klopstein, program executive officer for operational test and training infrastructure at SSC, the NITE-STAR program seeks to identify companies capable of building both ground-based and space-based elements of the range. This includes providing “live, on-orbit range capabilities” – such as satellites or instrumentation – for dedicated use or as a service. Details of the solicitation are available on SAM.gov.
Building a Comprehensive Space Training Ecosystem
The Space Force recognizes the need to leverage existing commercial capabilities while simultaneously developing purpose-built assets. “There are commercial capabilities out there that we want to be able to leverage in a different way for test and training… and we’ve leveraged range-as-a-service type of capabilities through commercial vendors,” Klopstein stated during a March 25 event hosted by Defense One. The service is also actively pursuing the development of its own dedicated on-orbit assets to enhance training realism.
NITE-STAR is a key component of the Space Force’s broader strategy to build the necessary ranges and simulators for Guardian training and capability validation, as outlined in the Space Test Vision document. Klopstein emphasized that the service’s operational test and training infrastructure (OTTI) efforts are focused on three core areas: physical ranges, digital test and training environments, and the underlying data infrastructure.
From Ad-Hoc Solutions to Long-Term Foundation
For the past several years, the Space Force has collaborated with commercial companies to rapidly deploy solutions for immediate training needs, investing “tens of millions of dollars” through commercial solutions openings and other rapid acquisition mechanisms. These efforts have contributed to the development of tools like the Space Warfighter Operational Readiness Domain (SWORD), a digital training capability that simulates space effects and scenarios. SWORD was initially developed by the 392nd Combat Training Squadron at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, in partnership with SSC, and has since been expanded through additional contracts.
The service has also utilized “other transaction authority” to establish a “range-as-a-service” contract, enabling training exercises using commercial satellites. In a recent exercise, the service, in partnership with Mission Delta 2, coordinated the movement of a commercial satellite, allowing Guardians to observe and utilize it for training purposes. While effective, Klopstein acknowledged that this approach is not sustainable in the long term.
“That ad-hoc approach has served the service well so far, it’s not sustainable,” Klopstein said. Contracts like NITE-STAR are intended to establish a more robust and enduring foundation for high-fidelity live and virtual training.
The “Backyard Range” Concept for Space Guardians
The Space Force envisions a training environment that mirrors the familiar “backyard range” concept used by traditional air forces. “A fighter squadron or bomber squadron that is at a base… they’re able to fly within airspace that is close in proximity to where their home station is,” Klopstein explained. “That’s kind of the backyard range that they use. Well, we’re trying to do the same thing for the Space Force.”
For Guardians, this translates to a mission simulator providing close-proximity training at their home stations. The service aims to integrate training modes into existing operational systems, allowing Guardians to practice in realistic scenarios. SWORD, the digital training environment, would be integrated with operator consoles to simulate space effects and threats. The service plans to transition SWORD to a cloud environment by 2027, enabling both home station and distributed training across multiple installations.
the Space Force is exploring the use of the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), a physics-based synthetic environment originally designed for F-35 testing, but now being expanded for broader use, to conduct high-fidelity testing of space systems.
The Space Force is prioritizing the definition of training environments, the establishment of industry standards, and the creation of pathways for industry to develop the necessary capabilities. The service intends to award contracts for the digital environment perform before the end of the year, complementing the recently awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for the data backbone.
As the Space Force continues to mature, the NITE-STAR program and related initiatives will be crucial in ensuring Guardians are well-prepared to operate in an increasingly contested space domain. The next step involves evaluating proposals from industry partners and selecting those best suited to deliver the capabilities needed to build this vital training infrastructure.
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