The US armed forces must start preparing now for future conflicts that may span the region from the seabed to the lunar environment, said General Dan Kane, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. This refers to the so-called cislunar space — the vast expanse between Earth and the Moon’s orbit. The statement came a few days after the US publicly confirmed for the first time that it possessed space-based control capabilities directly in orbit.
What exactly did Dan Kane say?
Speaking at the Air, Space & Cyber conference in Maryland, Kane stated that the nature of modern warfare is changing rapidly and that the US military must adapt to this new reality.
«Our task is to adapt now, so that our combined forces are ready to fight, stand their ground and prevail in a global confrontation — from the seabed to the space around the Moon,» said the general.
According to him, in future wars, the US can no longer count on a secure rear, unhindered access to the necessary areas or stable supply lines.
Kane also warned that US units must assume that the enemy will be able to track them in real time, jam their communications and deploy autonomous systems equipped with artificial intelligence.
Does this mean fighting on the Moon itself?
Term cislunar space usually refers to the space between the Earth and the Moon, including the areas surrounding it.
Defence One notes that the definition varies slightly across different US documents. Some interpretations also include the lunar surface, although Kane did not explain whether he meant military operations taking place directly on the Moon itself.
It is therefore more accurate to speak of the US’s preparations for a possible military confrontation in near-lunar space, rather than the already approved «war on the Moon» plan.
The Space Force is speaking openly about China
Commander of the US Space Force’s Combat Forces Command, Lieutenant General Gregory Gagnon stated that the US military is already stepping up its monitoring of the area around the Moon.
According to him, China is actively operating in this region, which is why two US space defence squadrons have already been tasked with monitoring the situation in cislunar space.
Gagnon compared this to expanding the «playing field»: the further humanity ventures from Earth, the further the US’s ability to control the situation and defend its systems must extend.
China is already carrying out complex missions on the far side of the Moon and is using relay satellites in lunar orbit, which is attracting increasing attention from the US military.
The US has acknowledged for the first time the presence of weapons in orbit
Kane’s statement came against the backdrop of yet another significant event.
15 September: the US military have publicly confirmed for the first time that the US has already deployed in orbit space surveillance assets, capable of countering potential threats.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Maink and General Douglas Schiss, head of the Space Force, did not disclose exactly which systems are being used. Reuters notes that this likely refers primarily to non-kinetic means — such as electronic jamming or other technologies capable of disabling or limiting the operation of enemy satellites without physically destroying them.
US officials attribute these measures to the growing capabilities of China and Russia in the field of anti-satellite technology.
The US Space Force plans to significantly increase
The US Space Force was established in 2019 during Donald Trump’s first term as president.
The military leadership is now planning to, approximately, to double the size of the service to 25,000 personnel over the next five years, with combat capabilities in space set to play an increasingly important role.
At the same time, the US is developing satellite reconnaissance, missile attack warning systems and the space-based component of the future ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system.
The Space Forces state quite clearly that their role is gradually shifting from simply supporting other branches of the armed forces to the ability to to conduct full-scale operations in space.
And what about the form that Trump published?
Donald Trump recently posted an image on Truth Social of a futuristic design bearing the inscription United States Space Force Service Dress Uniform — Next Generation.
However, an important clarification: there is no confirmation that this design was officially approved by the Space Force. Fact-checkers have established that the image posted by Trump was most likely created using AI, and that the official Space Force uniform looks different.
The Space Force’s new ceremonial uniform was officially unveiled 21 August 2026. It features blue elements, special insignia and the US Space Force’s own symbols. Therefore, the image posted by Trump would more accurately be described as concept.
Does international law permit war on the Moon?
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, to which the United States is a party, imposes certain restrictions on the use of celestial bodies.
In particular, it is prohibited to establish military bases, conduct military manoeuvres or test weapons on the Moon. At the same time, the deployment of military personnel for scientific or other peaceful purposes is permitted.
When it comes to operations conducted directly in space, the legal situation is more complex, particularly with regard to non-nuclear systems. That is precisely why the US Congress has already called on the Pentagon to carry out a separate analysis of the legal framework governing future military operations in space.
In fact, the statements made by American generals show that The space around the Moon is already beginning to be seen as a potential future arena for military rivalry, although the US has not yet announced any specific plans for combat operations on the Moon’s surface.
