U.S. military eyes on-orbit resupply and logistics within the next generation

At a defense transportation conference in Grapevine, Texas, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, projected that space-based logistics will become operational within his lifetime, enabling resupply missions launched from the United States to forward forces. He emphasized that future wars will demand rapid, autonomous logistics beyond traditional supply lines, especially against peer adversaries that could disrupt conventional resupply.

The Space Force plans two on-orbit demonstrations next year: one to test satellite refueling with Astroscale’s Provisioner vehicle and another to showcase enhanced maneuvering using a depot from Orbit Fab. Meanwhile, Russia and China are advancing their own space-weapon capabilities, prompting the U.S. to field “on-orbit space control” weapons. Douglas A. Schiess. Caine urged the joint force to adapt now to sustain operations from the seabed to cislunar space.