JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing showcased international military collaboration by hosting the seventh Vulcan Guard space exercise Sept. 16-21 at military installations across Oahu.
It was the first time the space event was held in Hawaii and the first time the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Armed Forces) participated.
National Guard space professionals from around the nation joined the exercise, emphasizing the collaborative spirit and expanding the scope of operational expertise within the U.S. National Guard.
Taking place at the Hawaii National Guard Headquarters and Armory at Fort Ruger in Honolulu, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and Kaʻena Point Space Force Station, the event underscored the importance of space operations in contemporary warfare and domestic response efforts.
As Hawaii’s partner in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, Indonesia has collaborated with the Hawaii National Guard for 18 years, working together in disaster response and regional security. Vulcan Guard provided a new platform for both nations to strengthen their combined space capabilities and operational integration.
“We are very grateful and would like to send our highest appreciation to the U.S. Air Force for inviting the Indonesian Air Force to attend Vulcan Guard Bolt 7,” said TNI Air Force Lt. Col. Dharma Gultom, operations staff officer of Indonesian Air Force Headquarters. “This exercise has provided us with valuable knowledge as we work toward building our own space operations unit. The opportunity to learn from the Hawaii Air National Guard and observe how the U.S. Air Force optimizes its space capabilities is something we truly value.”
The 109th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, one of the Hawaii ANG’s newest units, helped facilitate the event. The 109th EWS protects critical satellite communication links to achieve a near-global capability to detect, characterize, geolocate and report sources of electromagnetic interference on U.S. military and commercial satellites.
Vulcan Guard aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of U.S. space operations, mission planning, and strategies to counter space threats.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in academic sessions that provided theoretical knowledge, threat briefings on potential space hazards, scenario-based exercises and rapid response drills to test their ability to adapt quickly in real-world situations.
Airman 1st Class Antonio Torres, a space systems operator with the 109th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, provided administrative and logistical support for the exercise.
“In our scenario, we’re preparing for things such as storms or power grid outages — challenges our partners may face at home,“ Torres said. “These exercises help them determine new ways to turn to space capabilities, such as satellite communications, to aid in relief efforts.”
Space technologies play a vital role in military operations and in maintaining essential civilian infrastructure.
“Satellite communications enable critical capabilities,” he said. “For instance, if our GPS falls out of sync, it could disrupt digital financial transactions, effectively bringing daily economic activities to a standstill for everyone involved.”
Exercise participants were introduced to advanced radio frequency systems such as the Night Owl Lite and Beast+ and Kraken. These mobile systems demonstrated the flexibility and reliability of satellite communications in various environments, allowing participants to see how these tools can be deployed quickly to maintain critical communication links.
Vulcan Guard aligns with the broader National Defense Strategy, emphasizing collective deterrence through enhanced interoperability and information sharing. By fostering key competencies in space operations and international collaboration, the exercise strengthens the National Guard’s State Partnership Program and supports the goals of combatant commands for advancing global security cooperation.
Gultom highlighted the potential impact of space technologies in addressing Indonesia’s unique geographical challenges.
“Indonesia is in the Ring of Fire [the Pacific Rim’s seismic and volcanic activity belt], and space capabilities could help us better respond to and manage natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions or tsunamis,“ Gultom said. “Learning from the Hawaii Air National Guard on this is invaluable because they, too, share some of these environmental challenges.”
“The work we’re doing in Vulcan Guard is laying the foundation for space capabilities and partnerships that will define future missions,” Torres said.