The Pentagon is already evaluating the military systems the United States could need over the next 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, including technologies designed to operate around the Moon and in space, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Saturday.
Speaking at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, Hegseth said the military must also prepare for future conflicts involving underground and underwater environments. He said current budgets need to be adapted to address the demands of future warfare.
“We launched an initiative on the future of warfare looking beyond the next 5, 10, 15 and 20 years to determine what you will need,” Hegseth said, referring to potential cislunar, space, underground and underwater systems.
Hegseth said the United States is accelerating these programs and that a combination of crewed and autonomous systems will play an important role in future military operations. The Pentagon is also working with industry specialists to anticipate changes and incorporate the initiative into future budget decisions.
The comments come after the United States confirmed in September that it had an offensive weapon deployed in Earth orbit. Washington said the deployment was intended to protect U.S. troops and defend its forces against potential hostile actions by adversaries.
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Russia and China have criticized the expansion of U.S. military capabilities in space, warning about the risks of turning orbit into a potential battlefield.
