WASHINGTON — Slingshot Aerospace announced it developed an artificial intelligence-powered training system designed to prepare military satellite operators for contested space operations.
The Colorado and UK-based orbital analytics company said its TALOS (Thinking Agent for Logical Operations and Strategy) system can autonomously simulate realistic spacecraft behaviors and adversary tactics in training scenarios.
The technology is aimed at military users that seek virtualized test environments that keep pace with the evolving threat landscape in orbit.
Unlike traditional training systems that rely on pre-programmed scenarios, TALOS uses machine learning to adapt its behavior and develop tactical responses in real-time within physics-accurate orbital simulations.
“TALOS learns and replicates real-world spacecraft tactics, such as representative behaviors, space warfare maneuvers and dogfighting strategies,” the company said July 29. “Once assigned a mission, TALOS evaluates its surroundings, reasons through potential strategies and tactics, and executes its objective within a simulated, physics-accurate orbital environment.”
Space Force training programs
Slingshot is positioning TALOS for integration with the U.S. Space Force’s Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI), a program established in 2023 to develop training and testing environments for satellite operators and developers. OTTI encompasses digital twins, modeling systems, and full-mission trainers designed to prepare Space Force personnel to operate satellites during armed conflicts when spacecraft might be targeted by adversaries.
The system has already undergone evaluation by the Space Force’s 57th Space Aggressors Squadron, a specialized unit that simulates adversary threats and tactics to provide realistic opposition forces during training exercises. This “red team” approach is used to prepare operators to respond to potential hostile actions against U.S. space assets.
Technologies like TALOS are entering the military market as the Space Force seeks to leverage AI for space operations. The recently released “Data & AI Strategic Action Plan,” which emphasizes digital fluency, calls for widespread adoption of AI tools throughout the service.