Space Force-backed drill showcases satellite chase tactics in orbit

The US Space Force’s latest responsive mission, Victus Haze, featured an unclassified demonstration of future satellite combat tactics. True Anomaly’s Jackal satellite, also called Panther, performed a chase-and-evade routine with Rocket Lab’s Puma, built on the Pioneer platform. Both satellites, sized between a dishwasher and a refrigerator, were launched on separate dates, with Jackal lifted in May and Puma dispatched on June 19 after a rapid 17-hour call-up response from Rocket Lab in New Zealand.

Within 38 hours of launch, Rocket Lab had activated Puma and executed its first orbital maneuver, surpassing the Space Force’s 72-hour readiness benchmark. The drill illustrated how military and commercial entities can swiftly launch, position, inspect, and maneuver satellites to counter potential threats in space. Even Rogers, co-founder and CEO of True Anomaly, said the exercise marks the culmination of four years of development toward such capabilities. The mission underscores the growing emphasis on agile, space-based defense operations.