TOULOUSE, France –
A space planner from Space Delta 5, a command-and-control delta under U.S. Space Forces - Space (S4S), spearheaded critical operational integration efforts during SPARTEX 2026, France’s premier annual military space exercise Feb. 8-27, 2026.
U.S. Space Force Capt. Tyler Riechmann, special technical operations deputy division chief at Space Delta 5, represented S4S and the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC). In his role as a lead mission planner, Riechmann bridged U.S. doctrine and allied execution to counter emerging threats in a contested space domain.
Throughout the exercise, Riechmann instructed international participants on the U.S. approach to center of gravity target analysis. By embedding this doctrinal framework into the exercise’s simulated environment, he enabled partner nations to refine their own planning cycles, directly supporting the S4S mission to protect and defend the space domain to deliver space-enabled effects.
The integration of these processes is a cornerstone of globally integrated space operations, ensuring that S4S and the CSpOC can seamlessly transition from planning to execution alongside global allies.
"Meaningful integration with international partners was a key outcome of SPARTEX 2026," Riechmann said. "The collaborative environment was essential for creating a shared understanding of threats and for driving the innovation required to maintain an advantage in the space domain. Additionally, exercising notional operational cycles and planning processes is key to delivering synchronized space effects when it matters most, ensuring success in current and future operations."
SPARTEX 2026, formerly known as AsterX, brought together over 200 participants from 13 nations. The exercise serves as a vital platform for S4S and the CSpOC to validate interoperability and strengthen the collective resilience of the joint and combined force.