"Time for space fires": US military pushes for offensive weapons in orbit

Gen. Stephen Whiting, the head of U.S. Space Command, has made an explicit call for weapons to be deployed in space, signaling the U.S. military's shift toward offensive space capabilities.

In remarks at the Space Symposium on April 8, Whiting stated that it is time for the U.S. to acknowledge the need for "space fires" and weapon systems in space, Caliber.Az reports via American media.

"We need orbital interceptors," Whiting emphasized, adding, "What do we call these? We call these weapons, and we need them to deter space conflict and to ensure success if we end up in such a fight."

While Whiting has previously highlighted the importance of “space fires,” this is the first time he has openly advocated for the presence of weapons in space. Historically, U.S. officials have been hesitant to call for such measures, citing concerns about triggering an arms race in orbit, maintaining strategic ambiguity, and upholding the demilitarization principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. However, the changing landscape of global military competition is altering that stance.

The push for weapons in space comes as part of President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative, which envisions interceptors in space to neutralize incoming missiles. According to Whiting, these interceptors are now seen as critical to ensuring victory if conflict were to spill into space.

"Space-based interceptors were once considered inconceivable, but now they are a key component of how we win," Whiting declared. "We are a combatant command, and like all other combatant commands, we must be dominant in warfighting and war-winning. Dominant warfighting in space requires credible, acknowledged, kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, fires, and weapons."

Whiting also stressed the importance of developing capabilities that support "sustained space maneuver" as the U.S. faces increasing competition from nations like China, which are advancing their own space technologies. China is launching satellites capable of refueling and maneuvering in space, presenting new challenges for U.S. space operations.

“To be successful, our sustainment activities must be robust in space and on the ground, ensuring the survivability and resilience of our assets throughout every phase of conflict,” Whiting said. “Sustaining until the mission is complete is essential to our success.”

Although funding for on-orbit satellite refueling, repair programs, and new propulsion systems has fluctuated, Whiting renewed his call for SPACECOM to have the tools needed for “dynamic space operations” in future conflicts.

In a step toward achieving this vision, Whiting announced that SPACECOM is partnering with SPACEWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, to fund 10 companies with approximately $2 million each over the next 15 months. The goal is to develop technologies that can enable sustained space maneuver.

“This effort will continue to invest in the most promising technologies from the commercial sector to help solve the sustained space maneuver challenge and bring this joint function to the space domain,” Whiting said.

By Tamilla Hasanova