On January 15, Slingshot Aerospace announced that it won a $27 million contract to modernize scenario training activities. Under the contract, Slingshot will advance the Space Force’s Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) program toward integrating existing training enterprise capabilities with AI-native technology that realistically mirror today’s rapidly evolving orbital threat landscape.
Near-peer adversaries are advancing autonomous space capabilities and adopting maneuver tactics that evolve in real time. Operators need intelligent, unpredictable, machine-speed opponents to prepare for the complexity they will face on orbit — and that’s what TALOS AI delivers.
“This award marks a turning point in how the Space Force prepares for conflict in orbit,” Tim Solms, Slingshot Aerospace CEO, said. “TALOS allows the Space Force Guardians the ability to train against adaptive, AI-driven threats that behave like real adversaries — not pre-programmed scenarios. This is the dawn of AI-native space training, where human and machine intelligence work together to give mission leaders a decisive operational edge.”
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command recently tested TALOS to explore its potential as a force multiplier in training. TALOS simulated adaptive, machine-speed threat behaviors, enabling faster scenario development, larger-scale simulations and more realistic missions. STARCOM also used TALOS to collaborate with Slingshot in refining scenarios and plan for deeper AI integration into future exercises.
The 18-month contract, awarded through a Commercial Solutions Opening in alignment with Secretary of War’s Warfighting Acquisition System transformation directive, builds on earlier SpaceWERX and Space Force investments in 2022 under a $25 million STRATFI contract award.
The OTTI effort will leverage contributions from a broader set of industry and government partners. Slingshot is building TALOS and its supporting infrastructure to integrate seamlessly with complementary training systems, data sources, and AI capabilities across the Space Force, supported by collaboration with industry space modeling and simulation leaders to ensure interoperability, mission realism, and a cohesive training ecosystem.
“Our goal is to ensure TALOS can plug into the full training ecosystem — not just Slingshot technologies,” Solms said. “We’re working closely with other partners and government teams so the Space Force can incorporate new sensors, data systems, and AI capabilities as they come online. Open APIs and flexible integration paths are central to how we’re approaching this program.”
Source: Slingshot Aerospace
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