Space Force Chief Says U.S. Must Publicly Acknowledge Orbital Weapons Capabilities

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland—Growing anti-satellite threats from China and Russia have compelled the United States to publicly acknowledge its deployment of weapons in space, according to the Space Force’s chief of space operations. Gen. Douglas Schiess made the remarks on Tuesday, following Monday’s striking disclosure by Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

While deterrence remains the Space Force’s primary objective, the service will pursue it from a “position of strength,” Schiess told attendees of his keynote address at the Air, Space, and Cyber Conference. He spoke to reporters after the address on Tuesday, less than two weeks after assuming his role.

Meink’s announcement on Monday revealed that the U.S. military possesses “on orbit, space-control weapons.” Schiess elaborated Tuesday that the nation must be prepared to protect its assets and the broader joint force from space-enabled threats.

“We’ve talked about [adversaries] being able to grapple a satellite and move it to a different orbit,” he said. “I think at this point, we are trying to say that we also need capabilities to not only defend the joint force from space-enabled attack but defend our assets. And so, I think it was time that within the Department of War we talked about it, and it’s time to talk about the fact that we have the capabilities to make sure that we can do what the joint force needs.”

During his keynote, Schiess emphasized that the U.S. military depends on space capabilities for ongoing operations, including the current conflict with Iran. He stated that guardians are already prepared for orbital warfare and stressed the need for additional funding to sustain current and future missions.

“The Joint Force made it clear: without the Space Force’s capabilities, the Joint Force could not and would not move forward,” Schiess said. “During Operation Epic Fury, our components, notably at U.S. Central Command and Space Command, with support from our components at European Command and Pacific Command, demonstrated that guardians are not supporting from the sidelines as a nice-to-have, but we are delivering space power directly into the fight as a need-to-have.”

Schiess specifically highlighted a guardian assigned to U.S. Central Command with the 42nd Electronic Warfare Detachment who “waged electromagnetic warfare against a determined adversary” during Operation Epic Fury.

“Even as alarm red sirens were blaring and incoming missiles targeted her site, she courageously held the line, protecting forces, denying adversary capability, and delivering space effects until her commander had to literally pull her from the console to safety,” Schiess said.

The chief of space operations also noted that the Space Force has been actively demonstrating its capabilities in outer space. He highlighted the recent Victus Haze exercise, in which Rocket School rapidly launched a space vehicle whose satellite tracked True Anomaly’s spacecraft.

“This particular Victus Haze mission earlier this year demonstrated the ability to launch and respond to an on-demand, on-orbit threat in just 17 hours,” the general said. “Space Systems Command, our industry partners, and Combat Forces Command proved to the world that if an adversary targets the United States Space Force, we have the capability to deliver a swift response, and we are going to continue to work on getting faster and faster.”

Schiess said these current and future conflicts underscore the necessity for expanded resources.

“So, looking ahead, we must expand that advantage. We must build a sustained pipeline of guardian talent, equipped with the appropriate training and the kit and advanced capabilities, to ensure our joint force is fully powered by space expertise,” he said. “We must ensure today, tomorrow, and for as long as we have the pleasure to serve, that our joint force can execute because guardians are there, both at home and abroad, and in harm’s way.”

The Space Force has grown rapidly since its establishment in 2019, but this year the Pentagon is requesting $71.3 billion for the service for the fiscal year that began more than two weeks ago. This would represent the largest single-year funding increase for a service branch by percentage since 1952, according to the Aerospace Corporation.

“Space is both a battlefield and the backbone of our joint force. We face determined and credible adversaries who are building counter-space systems at incredible speeds to target directly the United States’ space advantage,” Schiess said. “So that is why we don’t just monitor the domain; we stand ready to defend it. So let me be crystal clear: today, Guardians operate on-orbit weapons that can defend the joint force against space-enabled attacks, and in the coming years, with the resources entrusted to us, by the way, we need your help, Congress—we will make disciplined and responsible choices about how we build and sustain our combat advantage, which means scaling our ability to respond to threats.”

It remains unclear whether Congress will approve the funding request. The White House is seeking $1.15 trillion through the standard defense-budget process and an additional $350 billion through reconciliation—a controversial budget maneuver previously unused for defense funding before last year. The Trump administration is urging the GOP-led Congress to approve the use of reconciliation to fund major Space Force programs, including the Air Moving Target Indicator and the space data network, as well as the majority of funding for the Golden Dome missile defense program.

In the meantime, 10 percent of the service’s programs are on hold because Congress has not passed a fiscal 2027 defense spending bill, Schiess told reporters. The federal government is currently operating under a stopgap funding measure set to expire on Dec. 11.

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