US Air Force Secretary Confirms Weapons Deployed in Space for First Time, Projects Autonomous Attack Drones Will Replace Artillery as Primary Killer by 2032

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed on Monday September 14 that the United States has deployed weapons in space for the first time, stating they are capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action and will help the US remain ready to meet challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist. Speaking at the Air and Space Cyber Conference in Maryland, Meink did not provide further details about the weapons or how they work. The announcement follows 2024 US intelligence reports that Russia was developing a space-based anti-satellite capability, though the White House said at the time that system was not operational and did not pose an immediate threat. Meink also projected that the Air Force will look radically different by 2032 as it expands its use of autonomous systems. He said one-way attack drones could replace artillery as the military's primary killer, signaling a fundamental shift in how the service expects to deliver lethal force. The comments align with broader Pentagon moves toward autonomous warfare, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg's March 2026 designation of Maven Smart System as a formal program of record and the backbone of CJADC2. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Congress on April 29 that the Pentagon would shortly announce a sub-unified command for autonomous warfare. Russia is already fielding fully autonomous systems in Ukraine and learning from every engagement, creating competitive pressure on US forces to accelerate operational deployment.