Gen. Michael Guetlein

Force in Play

As of September 2026: Warned about funding for Golden Dome missile defense

The United States has weapons deployed in orbit. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed it Monday at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, saying the 'space-control weapons' are needed to defend against hostile adversaries.

Updated Sep 16

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Leading program; cost estimate raised to $185 billion in March 2026

The U.S. military spent four decades chasing a laser that could shoot down a cruise missile. On April 28, 2026, the Pentagon detailed its latest attempt: the Joint Laser Weapon System, a containerized 150-kilowatt beam (scalable toward 500 kilowatts) that the Army and Navy will share, mounting it on trucks, ships, or anywhere a 20-foot container can sit.

Updated May 31