A Russian space nuke was focus of U.S. wargame, Space Command says

Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, command senior enlisted leader of U.S. Space Command, speaks with, from left, Ms. Tracy Copp, Joint Commercial Operations (JCO); Mr. Mike Whelan, Aerospace Corporation Senior Project Leader; and Mr. Michael Taylor, JCO, during an open forum discussion at the Apollo Insight Commercial Integration tabletop exercise in Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 23, 2026. (USSPACECOM photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shannon Burns)

By Thomas Novelly • Apr 16, 2026

Russia’s hypothetical use of its alleged nuclear anti-satellite capability was the focus of U.S. Space Command’s latest tabletop wargame, which pushed the U.S. government, allies, and dozens of defense companies to speculate on the fallout from the weapon’s launch.

Gen. Stephen Whiting, the head of U.S. Space Command, told Space Symposium attendees Tuesday that the reported development of the Russian weapon was the subject of the first “Apollo Insight” wargame, which concluded last month. The classified exercise involved Space Command officials and more than 60 companies that discussed the “worst-case scenario” and looked at industry solutions “to help prevent such a situation,” according to a recent news release.

“We just concluded our first [exercise] last month, and it was an event focused on weapons of mass destruction on orbit—a development we do not want to see come to fruition, but reporting about Russia’s plans to launch such a weapon, and that has forced us to prepare.”