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Last week was, if anything, “Space Week.” There were two very intentional statements from senior U.S. military leaders, one civilian and one uniformed, that put markers down. It is much more important than the coverage it received would suggest. First, the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink offered no details about the nature or makeup of the weapons but described them as “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action.” He made the surprise admission during his keynote address Monday at the annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md. A Space Force spokesperson said the weapons were deployed to increase “readiness against existing threats,” but declined to provide additional detail. The following statement is, well, a work of art. Not good art, but a work of art nonetheless. A Space Force spokesperson said the weapons were deployed to increase “readiness against existing threats,” but declined to provide additional detail. “Space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domain – employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation and even destruction, if necessary,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement under the condition his or her name not be published. “These capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.” Let me see if I can tap into my old staff-weenie head to translate that for everyone. “Other nations want to impose their will on space or will try to stop us from imposing our will. That ain’t gonna to happen. We are going to do what we need to do in space because it pleases us. We will physically break your stuff in space if it gets in our way, or just fry its electronics to make it deaf, dumb, and blind, if needed. We’ll do it for our COCOMs, or if you try to do it yourself, we’ll take care of that business as well. Cope and seethe.” Weapons can be soft-kill (think Electronic Attack, jamming, etc), or hard kill (which needs no explanation). What kind are we referring to here? I’m thinking the former over the latter. Some think that “international law” prevents the militarization of space. Not true. The only thing on the books is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. In Article IV of the treaty, it bans weapons of mass destruction in space. It also covers the Moon…which will tie in to the second part of today’s post. Before we go, something about the timing of the above announcement with recent events. Just a coincidence, I’m sure. A Chinese satellite has left “space debris” in Earth’s orbit, adding to the growing clutter that could circle our planet for centuries. Here’s what to knowThe debris field was left by Yaogan 50-02 — a Chinese reconnaissance satellite that had been flying in an unusual retrograde orbit about 590 miles above Earth, according to Futurism. The U.S. Space Force is tracking 43 fragments from the breakup in orbits ranging from 372 to 683 miles. On X, Harvard astronomer and space-tracking expert Jonathan McDowell speculated that a “battery explosion or an impact by space debris” may have caused the breakup. Interesting was this story released by WSJ about the same time. Before Iran carried out its attack that killed three U.S. troops in July, Tehran acquired high-resolution satellite images of the base in Jordan from Chinese entities, according to U.S. officials familiar with details of the incident. It is the clearest evidence so far that Chinese support for Iran during the war has had lethal consequences for U.S. forces, according to the officials, who say the U.S. has connected the imagery to the attack. Related? Who knows. I don’t think it matters, really. Point is made, and implied. Is space weaponized now? I think it always has been. The Soviets broke the seal back in 1975, but the latest news is more operational—and it seems to be more permanent. I’m OK with that. As a matter of fact, I’m relieved. From communications to imagery to defense against attack, space has been critical to the American way of war for decades, and increasingly other space-faring nations as well. We are buying the lives of Americans by dominating space. Everywhere humans go, the military will either be at the front or close behind. Space will be no different. We might as well steal a march on the rest before they steal a march on us. In case you have not noticed, there has been a quickening again in space over the last half decade, driven by innovation in the U.S. In the U.S. alone. It is all set to increase further with both commercial (SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, etc.) and state-owned efforts like NASA are accelerating. There is clearly a new space race, and it is USA v. China, with most of the rest by being American allies. Also last week was something that was briefly mentioned on yesterday’s Midrats Podcast, but by a person who should get your attention. This is the second leaders mentioned at the top of the post. Gen Dan Caine, who as chair of the joint chiefs of staff is the country’s most senior military leader, told the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland this week, that the armed forces including Space Force must be “prepared to fight, endure and win … from the seabed to cislunar space”. Added to a number of other maneuvers and bold pronouncements Trump has made concerning space in recent weeks and months, it is hard not to see the space weapons reveal by Meink – who holds a civilian position reporting to the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth – as a further blending of the traditionally separate military and non-military roles of US space policy. We discussed the critical importance of the Moon two episodes ago on the Midrats Podcast with Dean Cheng. We must get to the lunar south pole first, as that seems to be the prime real estate. We need to set up a permanent base there…to be the firstest with the mostest, and stay there. Humans will move into space. That is where our species is destined to go. The question is, what will define the terms of our movement? Just as North America was founded on British law and customs because that is who mostly settled there, South America’s template was set by Spain. Quite different outcomes. Access to and movement through the high seas was set by first the British Empire and then the U.S.A. Why? Because they were the dominate powers in both. The standards and practices—not to mention law and language—of space will be determined by who is running the show between first Earth and the Moon, and then on to Mars, etc. Be the dominate power, you set the rules. Look at the People’s Republic of China and her behavior on the open seas, the South China Sea, etc., and all the “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy that comes with it. Do you want that is space, stamping on the human face forever? Imperfect as we may be, the American solution will come with a healthy flavoring of other democratic systems that we will partner with; Japan, Europe, United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, and eventually Canada unless they continue to play footsie with the PRC, then they can pack sand. So, in a bipartisan manner with a steady and growing funding line, the U.S. needs to keep pushing to the Moon. A full court press by NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab…everyone. Whoever can get people and material there should get a funding line. I’d also like to see how many SpaceX Starships are needed to get the Boring Company up and running on the Moon. Much of the base should be underground…and that will be how to make it happen…I think. What would it take to run that operation from the Moon? I am sure there is already an outline to do that. How many to get a small nuclear reactor that could provide power to 1,000 people doing industrial work? More. Faster. Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

The U.S. Marine Corps has released a photo of Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit driving a Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System, known as LMADIS, a mobile counter-drone system, in the Middle East on Sept. 2-6. The caption says only that the photo was taken in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, […]View the full article

U.S. Army soldiers launched micro-High-Altitude Balloons at the Yausubetsu Training Area on Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 18, including one that carried an APOLLO-R drone. Observers from Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia watched the demonstration during Exercise Orient Shield 26, according to the title of the U.S. Army’s video. Balloons are often seen as relics […]View the full article

U.S. Air Force officers studying at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) are testing whether small drones can scout a damaged airfield before engineers walk onto it. The research targets a job that still depends mostly on people. After an attack, U.S. Air Force civil engineers have to reopen runways while dealing with unexploded […]View the full article

NORAD has sent U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters from Alaska to the Atlantic side of Canada, and plans to take aircraft and personnel on into Greenland, in an Arctic operation running Sept. 13-26. The Alaskan NORAD Region moved the F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base to Goose Bay, in Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province, for […]View the full article

Turkish defense specialists inspected aircraft maintenance facilities at Royal Air Force Coningsby in England on Sept. 15-17 as work continues on Türkiye’s purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from the United Kingdom. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the visit in a post on X. The delegation included personnel from the ministry, the Turkish […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force inactivated four A-10 units at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on Sept. 18, in a ceremony it described as the official end of the A-10 legacy at the base. The units were the 355th Operations Group, 357th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Generation Squadron and 355th Training Squadron. Col. Jose Cabrera, commander […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force retired EC-130H Compass Call tail 1590 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on Sept. 18, after more than four decades of Compass Call electronic warfare operations. The propeller-driven aircraft made its final flight on Sept. 2 and taxied in for the last time during a retirement ceremony. The EA-37B now takes […]View the full article

After a two-week availability period, the Midrats Podcast is back! SummaryIn this episode, we explore current geopolitical tensions, military readiness, and strategic challenges facing the US and its allies, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and international cooperation. You can listen at this link or via the Spotify widget below. Show LinksRussian restrictions on Estonia’s borders Curfew on Russia’s Border with Estonia, Holger Roonemaa on Substack Great Circle ballistic arcs over Greenland Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, by Michael B. Oren Operation Red Sea Regatta Shipfinder Hormuz Tracker Hormuz Strait Monitor Strait of Tiran Italy tires of EU military bureaucracy with Operation Aspides Department of War IG report on Operation Epic Fury Ukrainian FP-7 Pelican SRBM USAF Ponders Restart of C-17 line, Joseph Trevithick in TWZ Deadly escalation in Black Sea attacks prompts fears of even higher food prices, Joanna Partridge in The Guardian The US air force admitted to deploying weapons in space. Don’t expect the White House to explain why, Richard Luscombe in The Guardian Key TopicsRussian border curfews and testing NATO responses Gray zone operations in Europe and suspected incidents The importance of naval power and the Strait of Hormuz US energy independence and refinery capacity issues The strategic significance of Greenland and the Arctic Space dominance and the importance of cislunar space European NATO capabilities and weapon shortages The role of alliances and international cooperation in security Takeaways Russian testing of border restrictions signals potential for future escalation European nations are underprepared for modern missile threats US needs to rebuild and modernize its heavy airlift capabilities Greenland’s strategic importance is increasing and must be secured Control of key maritime choke points is critical for global security Space dominance is essential for future military and economic power European navies lack sufficient missile defense capabilities Energy infrastructure vulnerabilities pose national security risks Chapters00:00: Introduction to Geopolitical Tensions and NATO 02:04: Russian Border Curfews and Testing NATO Responses 03:55: European Operations and Weapon Shortages 06:09: The Strategic Importance of Greenland and the Arctic 10:01: Energy Security and Oil Refinery Capacity 15:10: Straits of Hormuz and Global Oil Transit 22:02: Black Sea, Yemen, and Middle East Tensions 30:00: Naval Power and the US Surface Fleet 36:06: European Naval Capabilities and Weapon Shortages 45:11: Space Power, Cislunar Space, and Future Threats 59:47: International Alliances and Strategic Cooperation 01:05:02: Conclusion: Preparing for a Dangerous World Leave a comment Share This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. View the full article

Combat medics from Ukraine’s 1st Separate Medical Battalion traveled to Sweden last week to share their experience evacuating wounded soldiers under drone threat, meeting with medical personnel from the Swedish Armed Forces’ Life Guards regiment, according to a Life Guards post and a LinkedIn account from the Ukrainian company that built the ground robot involved […]View the full article

Five companies posted the top scores in the close-quarters battle category of Gauntlet II, the latest round of testing under the U.S. Department of War’s $1 billion Drone Dominance Program, according to results the program released and companies confirmed this week. Neros topped that category with a score of 88.1, followed by ORQA US LLC […]View the full article

The U.S. Space Force wants companies to pitch satellites that can chase down and inspect objects in orbit on short notice, according to a request for information Space Systems Command published September 18. Space Systems Command asked industry September 18 to pitch designs for a spacecraft that can chase down another object in space, close […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force will hold a two-day industry day October 20-21 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to brief companies on a new mission computer upgrade for its F-16 fighter fleet, according to a notice posted September 18 by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The event covers the Next-Generation Mission Computer program, an […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy is asking defense companies to pitch designs for a carrier-launched combat drone that could fly, fight and land on aircraft carriers alongside manned fighters, according to a request for information released August 31 by Naval Air Systems Command. The RFI covers the first increment of the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, run […]View the full article

The U.S. Space Development Agency released a formal request for proposals September 18 for ground stations that will receive data from its next generation of missile-tracking satellites, with proposals due November 2. The solicitation covers Ground Entry Points, or GEPs, for the agency’s Resilient Missile Warning Tracking satellites in low Earth orbit. These ground stations […]View the full article

While some military hardware ages out quickly, the Army’s Avenger air defense system has instead spent nearly four decades getting upgraded piece by piece, and this week it received another one: a new contract worth up to $25.2 million for infrared sensors that let its crews spot targets in the dark. The Defense Logistics Agency […]View the full article

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Leidos an $85 million ceiling contract for digital design tools meant to help engineer future aircraft, the second company in as many days to win a spot under the same research program that Anduril Industries joined a day earlier. The Air Force Research Laboratory made the award to Leidos, […]View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded a $10.6 million contract for Raybird unmanned aircraft hardware and services to Skyeton Inc., the American arm of Skyeton, a Ukrainian company that has spent the past several years proving the drone in combat over Ukraine. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, issued the firm-fixed-price contract after soliciting bids […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has awarded Kato Engineering a $49.3 million contract to keep maintaining the power system behind the electromagnetic catapults on its Ford-class aircraft carriers, covering engineering support, repairs and spare-parts sourcing through 2031. The contract covers the Energy Storage Subsystem of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, the technology that replaced traditional […]View the full article

The U.S. Navy has added $76.6 million to a Lockheed Martin contract for continued design work on the next generation of the Trident II D5 nuclear missile, part of a long-term effort meant to keep the submarine-launched weapon in service into the 2080s. The modification adds to an existing contract with Strategic Systems Programs, the […]View the full article

Before an F-35 fighter jet can land at a new base and start flying real missions, someone has to build the entire support system around it first: spare parts stocked on shelves, specialized tools laid out, technicians trained, and computer systems wired into the global network that keeps the jet running. That unglamorous but essential […]View the full article

Russia has begun building underground production space for its Shahed and Geran attack drones at the Alabuga industrial zone in Tatarstan, according to Ukrainian open-source intelligence analyst Dnipro Osint, who estimated roughly 42,000 square meters of underground area has already been constructed there. Dnipro Osint said the shift underground appears to have followed earlier Ukrainian […]View the full article

Bath Iron Works said the future USS Quentin Walsh, a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is now one of the ships taking shape at its Land Level erection stage, the point where large prefabricated hull sections are joined together before launch. General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine marked the milestone alongside National POW/MIA […]View the full article

Turkish defense manufacturer ASELSAN demonstrated in live trials in Konya province that three of its airborne systems can work together on Bayraktar TB2 drones to detect, jam and photograph enemy radar in a single coordinated sequence, the company said, in a demonstration attended by more than 15 international defense delegations. The trial combined three pods: […]View the full article

Leonardo DRS will build the electric propulsion system for South Korea’s next-generation KDDX destroyer, the company announced, supplying technology for what will be the Republic of Korea Navy’s first full-electric-drive surface warship. DRS signed the contract with Doosan Enerbility, which will work alongside the American company to build the ship’s complete power and propulsion system, […]View the full article