U.S. Military Officials Say Preparation is Needed for Combat in Lunar Surrounding Space
On September 16, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Yang Ling and Xiong Maoling) that General Dan Kain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the U.S. military not only needs to prepare for operations in Earth orbit but also needs to be ready for operations in the space around the Moon. Previously, the U.S. disclosed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space.
According to the Associated Press, Kain said during a speech at the annual "Aerospace and Cyber Conference" held in National Harbor, Maryland, that the U.S. military should now make adjustments to "be prepared to fight, persist, and win from the seabed to lunar space."
The Associated Press quoted U.S. Space Force Operations Commander Gregory Gagnon as saying that the U.S. plans to double the size of its Space Force within the next five years to about 25,000 personnel, with approximately two-thirds of the increase focused on operational command. Gagnon stated, "We have military capabilities to enhance deterrence."
On the 14th, U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall revealed at the same conference that the U.S. has deployed "on-orbit space control weapons." This is the first time the U.S. has acknowledged its "offensive capabilities" in space. Kendall did not specify the types of these space-based weapons.
In December 2019, the U.S. officially established the Space Force. In May 2025, President Trump announced the development plan for the "Iron Dome" space-based missile defense system. Trump stated that the "Iron Dome" would integrate with the existing U.S. missile defense capabilities and, once fully operational, would be able to intercept missiles launched from other parts of the world, including space. He mentioned that the system is planned to be "fully operational" within three years. In April of this year, the U.S. Space Force announced contracts with 12 companies, including SpaceX and Lockheed Martin, to develop space-based interceptors capable of intercepting missiles as part of the "Iron Dome" system.
U.S. military leaders announced preparations for operations in lunar space during a conference in Maryland on September 16, 2023. The U.S. Space Force plans to double its personnel to about 25,000 over the next five years, focusing on enhancing deterrence capabilities. Additionally, the U.S. has acknowledged the deployment of space control weapons, marking a significant development in its military capabilities in space.
- U.S. military is preparing for operations in lunar space.
- U.S. Space Force plans to double its size to approximately 25,000 personnel in the next five years.
- The U.S. has deployed space control weapons, indicating offensive capabilities in space.
- The U.S. Space Force has contracts with 12 companies for missile interception systems.
- The establishment of the Space Force was formalized in December 2019.