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BackUS Military Prepares for Combat in Cislunar Space, Top Adviser Says
US Military Prepares for Combat in Cislunar Space, Top Adviser Says
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SCMP Economy3 hours agoDefense1 min readChina

US Military Prepares for Combat in Cislunar Space, Top Adviser Says

american troopscombatearth orbit

Quick Look

President Donald Trump's top military adviser, General Dan Caine, stated that American troops must prepare for combat in Earth's orbit and around the moon, following the US revelation of deployed on-orbit space control weapons, as Space Force readies to defend US interests in cislunar space.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The US established the Space Force in 2019 under President Trump as its sixth military branch. Recent developments include the revelation of deployed on-orbit space control weapons and preparations for operations in cislunar space, the region between high Earth orbit and the moon.

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American troops need to prepare for combat not only in Earth’s orbit but around the moon, President Donald Trump’s top military adviser said on Wednesday, looking ahead to a new frontier in warfare after the US revealed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told service members and industry figures at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference outside Washington that the US military should adapt now so it “is prepared to fight, endure and win … from the seabed to cislunar space”.

Space Force, the newest military service, which was created by Trump in 2019, is preparing to fight in space and around the moon because “humanity is advancing deeper into space – the Space Force’s job is to help be prepared to defend US interests,” Lieutenant General Gregory Gagnon, head of the force’s Combat Forces Command, told reporters separately.

The announcement that the US military is ready to fight in the area between high Earth orbit and the moon itself comes days after Air Force Secretary Troy Meink revealed at the same conference that the US has fielded “on-orbit space control weapons”.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The US will conduct further tests or deployments of space-based weapons systems in the coming months.

    Likely · Within months

  • International discussions or debates will increase regarding the militarization of space and cislunar operations.

    Likely · Within months

Open Questions

  • What specific types of on-orbit space control weapons has the US deployed?
  • Which nations are perceived as primary competitors in cislunar space?
  • What treaties or agreements govern military activities in cislunar space?
  • How will the US fund and sustain prolonged operations in cislunar environments?

Related Topics

american troops
PeopleDonald TrumpDan CaineGregory GagnonTroy Meink
OrganizationsJoint Chiefs of StaffUnited States Space ForceUnited States Air Force
PlacesWashingtonEarthMoon
Topicscombatearth orbitmoondonald trumpdan cainejoint chiefs of staff
This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.

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