US MILITARY WARGAMES BEGIN WITH ORBITAL NUKE SCENARIO

The wargame exercise marks an escalation in military planning around space-based threats. A nuclear detonation in low-Earth orbit would create debris fields capable of damaging or destroying satellites for months, potentially crippling communications, navigation, and reconnaissance systems. US officials have increasingly focused on space security as a strategic priority. The scenario tests military response protocols to catastrophic orbital events and evaluates dependencies on satellite infrastructure across defense and civilian networks. Low-Earth orbit, roughly 100 to 2,000 kilometers above the surface, hosts critical military and commercial satellites. Debris from a nuclear event could persist for extended periods, making the orbit hazardous for future operations. The wargame series will likely inform policy decisions around space defense capabilities and treaty negotiations. It underscores growing concerns about space becoming an active military domain.