The U.S. Space Force has confirmed the deployment of weapons in orbit for the first time, as mentioned by U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink during the Air and Space Cyber Conference. He described the need to modernize the Air and Space Forces in response to adversaries’ advancements in technology, including AI and autonomous weapons.
Meink emphasized that the U.S. faces a rapidly changing threat environment, necessitating a significant increase in combat capabilities, particularly through the use of autonomous systems and cost-effective weaponry. He predicted a “dramatically” transformed Air Force by 2032.
His remarks come amid a reassessment of military strategies in light of hybrid threats, as evidenced by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has underscored a shift towards the use of drones and autonomous systems in warfare.
