{
  "id": 7875342,
  "title": "Space Force Chief Admits the US Is Actively Utilizing Orbital Weapons",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/space-force-chief-admits-the-us-is-actively-utilizing-orbital-weapons",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T21:11:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/science-energy/space-force-chief-pentagon-orbital-weapons-budget"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In an address to the public on Tuesday, reported by Space.com, General Douglas Schiess, the chief of space operations for the US Space Force, confirmed that the Pentagon has deployed active space-based weapons platforms. The chief emphasized that Guardians, the term used for Space Force personnel, operate on-orbit weapons capable of defending the joint force against space-enabled attacks. \"Space is both a battlefield and the backbone of our joint force,\" Schiess remarked, highlighting the crucial role of space in military operations.\n\nSchiess refrained from disclosing specifics about the weapons, instead sharing the story of a Space Force operator named \"Specialist Gray.\" \"Even as alarm red sirens were blaring and incoming missiles targeted her site, she courageously held the line, protecting forces, denying adversary capability, and delivering space effects until her commander had to literally pull her from the console to safety,\" Schiess narrated with a dramatic tone. \"She locked onto the target, optimized her weapon system and waged electromagnetic warfare against a determined adversary.\"\n\nThe revelation of orbital weapons deployment coincided with the Space Force's request for over $71 billion in additional funding for 2027, on top of the $100 billion already allocated to the branch. Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein reported that the orbital-weapons announcement was likely intended to bolster the request for funding, which, if approved, would represent the largest single-year budget adjustment for any US military branch since 1952.",
  "summary": "\"Space is both a battlefield and the backbone of our joint force.\" The post Space Force Chief Admits the US Is Actively Utilizing Orbital Weapons appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}