U.S. Military Says Troops Must Ready for Combat Around the Moon
U.S. senior military officials announced that forces need to be prepared for fighting in cislunar space, including around the moon, after revealing on-orbit weapons.
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine called on the U.S. military to prepare for warfare that stretches from the ocean floor to the region between high Earth orbit and the moon. The Space Force, established in 2019, is developing combat capabilities for cislunar space, with Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon emphasizing the need to defend national interests as humanity expands outward. The announcement follows Air Force Secretary Troy Meink’s revelation that the United States has fielded on-orbit space-control weapons.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned that China remains committed to the peaceful use of outer space and urged the United States to stop militarizing the domain. The initiative raises questions about compliance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits weapons in space, while the Space Force aims to double its size to roughly 25,000 personnel, with two-thirds dedicated to combat forces.
Why it matters
The move signals a shift toward militarizing space and could strain international treaties governing outer space.
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