The US needs ‘weapons in space,’ SPACECOM head says

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The head of U.S. Space Command is calling for weapons to be deployed in space, the most explicit call yet for offensive space capabilities. 

“It's time that we can clearly say that we need space fires and we need weapon systems. We need orbital interceptors. And what do we call these? We call these weapons, and we need them to deter a space conflict and to be successful if we end up in such a fight,” Gen. Stephen Whiting said Tuesday at Space Symposium. 

Whiting has previously emphasized the need for “space fires,” but this is the first time he has openly called for “weapons” in space. U.S. officials have shied away from such calls in the past for several reasons, including fear of touching off an orbital arms race, for strategic ambiguity, and because they have seen value in supporting the demilitarizing spirit of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

But times are changing. President Donald Trump’s next-gen missile shield Golden Dome envisions interceptors in space to knock out incoming missiles. Whiting said these interceptors are now seen as critical to securing victory if conflict breaks out.

“Weapons in space used to be considered inconceivable, but now space-based interceptors are a key component of how we win. We are a combatant command, and like all other combatant commands, we must be dominant at warfighting and war-winning. Dominant warfighting in space requires credible, acknowledged, kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, fires and weapons,” Whiting said. 

If war extends into space, the service can’t assume it will end quickly, Whiting added. The Space Force has to develop capabilities that will enable “sustained space maneuver,” since China is launching satellites that can refuel other space systems and satellites that can maneuver.

“To be successful, our sustainment activities must be robust in space and also right here on terra firma, to ensure the survivability and resilience throughout every phase of conflict. Sustaining until the mission is complete is essential to our success,” Whiting said. 

Service officials have been hot and cold about funding programs for on-orbit satellite refueling and repair and new propulsion systems to help satellites maneuver around. But Whiting renewed his call that SPACECOM needs the kit to conduct “dynamic space operations" in a future fight. 

The general announced that SPACECOM is co-sponsoring a program with SPACEWERX, the service’s innovation arm, to give 10 companies about $2 million each over 15 months to develop tech for sustained space maneuver, Whiting said.  

“This effort will continue to invest in the most promising technology from commercial industry to help us solve the sustained space maneuver challenge so we can bring this joint function to the space domain,” Whiting said.