{"id":2663413,"date":"2026-09-17T14:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/air-force-secretary-confirms-u-s-now-has-weapons-deployed-in-space\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T14:11:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:11:24","slug":"air-force-secretary-confirms-u-s-now-has-weapons-deployed-in-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/air-force-secretary-confirms-u-s-now-has-weapons-deployed-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force Secretary Confirms U.S. Now Has Weapons Deployed in Space"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fair-force-secretary-confirms-u-s-now-has-weapons-deployed-in-space%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2663413&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On Monday, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced that the United States possesses weapons in space to counter emerging threats. These space control weapons are designed for both offensive and defensive purposes and have been operational as at least 2007, with increased emphasis on their importance in recent years. The U.S. aims to enhance its military capabilities by deploying highly autonomous systems and modernizing its space forces by 2032, involving projects like autonomous aircraft named Vengeance and Fury. This public acknowledgment marks a meaningful growth in space warfare, reflecting the evolving nature of global security challenges, technological advancements such as AI, and the need for cost-effective innovations to maintain military superiority.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink acknowledged that the United States has weapons in Earth\u2019s orbit to protect Americans from evolving threats.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist. This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action,\u201d Meink said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/amp\/Politics\/air-force-secretary-acknowledges-us-weapons-space\/story?id=136437923\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to ABC News.<\/p>\n<p>A Space Force representative told the outlet that \u201cthese capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe U.S. has warned about Russian and Chinese weapons testing and operationalization since 2007,\u201d the representative added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDue to their actions, it is no longer a question that space is a warfighting domain. Open communication strengthens deterrence, prevents adversary miscalculation, and normalizes space operations alongside the other services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meink said the U.S. will \u201cdramatically increase\u201d combat power by \u201cadding large numbers of highly autonomous systems,\u201d and estimates the Air Force will be \u201cradically\u201d revamped by 2032, CNBC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/09\/15\/weapons-in-space-us-air-force-meink.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This marks the first-ever public acknowledgement of the Space Force deploying weaponry into space, although it has long been thought to exist, as both sides of the political aisle have debated placing weapons throughout the final frontier.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe 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,\u201d the secretary stated.<\/p>\n<p>The Air Force public affairs office also issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arpc.afrc.af.mil\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/4600887\/meink-offers-blueprint-for-modernizing-air-space-forces-affordably\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a> outlining the agency\u2019s mission to \u201cdefend the homeland, deter all adversaries, and\u2026 if necessary\u2026 win in combat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, we face a mix of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/microsoft-cuts-4800-jobs-as-it-navigates-ai-revolution\/\" title=\"Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs as it navigates AI revolution\">rapidly changing technologies<\/a>, adversaries moving aggressively to employ them, and a budget process for a different pace of warfare,\u201d Meink explained.<\/p>\n<p>He cited \u201cone-way attack drones\u201d in Europe that have replaced artillery as the \u201cprimary killer\u201d and said that armor often \u201csits idle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for artificial intelligence, Meink described it as \u201crevolutionizing the battlefield\u201d by allowing \u201ccountries that would not have had the resources in the past to quickly adapt and scale their combat capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Due to this rapidly changing landscape, America \u201cmust increase our combat power and innovate faster than anyone else, affordably,\u201d he declared. \u201cWe need cost-effective combat power.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Much of the new autonomous technology will be able to carry out missions that were previously assigned to manned fighters.<\/p>\n<p>Two such autonomous aircraft, the FQ-42 and FQ-44, have been named Vengeance and Fury.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Meink stressed the importance of allocating funds to these projects, saying, \u201cIn today\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-gives-in-to-liberal-push-to-stall-nuclear-modernization\/\" title=\"White House Gives in to Liberal Push to Stall Nuclear Modernization\">rapidly changing threat environment<\/a>, we cannot expect a world-class military if we choose not to invest in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany of the weapons, components, or systems we have to buy have outrun the cost curve,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey perform extremely well, but the costs are growing faster than the rate of inflation. We need that to change to maintain our military advantage and economic security.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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