U.S. Confirms It Has Weapons in Orbit

In a groundbreaking announcement, the U.S. Space Force stated publicly on Monday, Sept. 14, that it currently has on-orbit weapons in space.

Department of the Air Force Secretary Troy Meink’s keynote address at the 2026 Air and Space Cyber Conference focused on plans to modernize the Air Force against AI-powered weapons and capabilities wielded by adversaries — capabilities that, in his view, have outpaced the Air Force’s current budget process, and are moving faster than he imagined when he took the job 18 months ago. 

The Air Force, according to Meink, will look “radically different” by 2032. Part of that change involves weapons placed in orbit to defend the United States against what Meink calls “existing threats” from its adversaries. It’s an unsurprising announcement given President Trump’s space policy over the last several years — but one that could reshape the geopolitical landscape for years to come as the U.S. finds itself in the midst of what some experts have called a second space race.

“We are increasing readiness against existing threats, and the United States has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action,” said Meink during his address.