The threat of the world’s first war in space appears to be rising following comments from General Chance Saltzman, the United States Space Force’s chief of space operations, regarding American plans to militarize space assets in response to increasing attempts by adversary nations to weaponize low Earth orbit.
During a presentation at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium last month, Saltzman said that America’s efforts to counter China and Russia’s development of space domain weapons, including reports of Russia’s orbital nuclear weapons platforms, are already falling behind. The General also said catching up and passing our adversaries is critical to maintaining “space superiority” in any potential conflict.
“We must simultaneously be ready to defend American spacepower as well as to protect our forces against hostile spacepower,” Saltzman told conference attendees.
Few details of the exact systems were made available. However, the Space Force Chief discussed several categories of space warfare systems that are likely under consideration.
The First War in Space Will Likely Feature These Weapons
Since the end of World War II, several weapon platforms and systems designed to weaponize low Earth orbit for a potential war in space have been proposed. The first and only weapon fired in space occurred on January 24, 1975, when the Soviet Union test-fired a modified aircraft cannon from the ALMAZ/Salyut 3/OPS-2 space station.
During the 1980s, U.S. President proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative. Nicknamed “Star Wars,” the program, which many believed violated national law governing the weaponization of space, outlined various potential weapons designed to arm America for the first war in space.
Saltzman highlighted many of those same categories, including employing “kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation, and even destruction, if necessary.”
“It includes things like orbital warfare and electromagnetic (EM) warfare, and its counterspace operations can be employed for both offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands,” the chief explained.
A report from ArsTechnica indicated that Saltzman told reporters in a separate meeting that combat lasers and several other directed-energy weapons were also under consideration. While no specific combat laser contractor or platform was mentioned by name, The Debrief has covered several potential EM, kinetic, microwave, and laser space warfare weapons already in development, including some currently viable and some more far-out concepts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The Air Force recently tested a device, called Thor’s Hammer, which uses microwaves to fry the electronics of drones and missiles. Contractor Lockheed-Martin is developing two different microwave-based weapons designed to counter the electronic systems of enemy platforms. Defense contractor BAE Systems recently bet over $5 billion on the prospect of a future war in space when it acquired Ball Aerospace.
Orbital Carrier Could be a “Game-Changer”
One space-based weapon platform already receiving funding from the Space Force is an “orbital carrier” capable of launching and retrieving automated satellites and weapons like a sea-based aircraft carrier. According to Colin Doughan, the CEO of the $60 million award recipient SpaceWERX, their orbital carrier offers several advantages currently unavailable to military forces.
“The Orbital Carrier is a game-changer, acting as a pre-positioned launch pad in space,” Doughan said at the time of the award. “It bypasses traditional launch constraints, enabling space vehicle operators to rapidly select a deployment orbit on demand.”
“We’re honored to partner with the U.S. Space Force on this critical initiative,” Colin Doughan added.
Although many other potential weapons systems in development could factor into the first-ever war in space, General Saltzman noted that “we’re not pursuing all of those yet.” However, the general warned that China and Russia are “pursuing all of those.”
Whatever systems are ultimately chosen to arm the U.S. for a potential war in space, the General noted that it is merely the Space Force’s duty and honor. It is also what separates them from a scientific organization or private corporation.
“Space Superiority is the fundamental difference between a civil space agency and a warfighting space service,” the chief explained. “It is the distinction between a company’s employees operating commercial satellites and Guardians conducting combat operations to achieve joint objectives.”
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.