How the U.S. Space Force Is Actually Used in Wars Today | WSJ

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:15:40 +0000

From Venezuela to Iran, the U.S. has leveraged satellites and other space capabilities to gain an advantage in warfare. Space technologies can help detect missile launches, synchronize strikes, get a clear view of the battlefield and degrade an enemy’s ability to operate.

WSJ’s Shelby Holliday spoke with Gen. Chance Saltzman about the U.S. Space Force’s pivotal year, and about how the military must prepare for a future in which adversaries like China seek to threaten America’s advantage in space. Watch the interview here.

Chapters:
0:00 Space warfare
1:16 How important space is to the U.S.
4:00 The future of space: U.S. vs. China
9:10 The importance of different orbits
13:10 Hiding satellites and high-altitude platforms
15:11 Why the moon is so important to space
17:09 Electronic warfare and interceptors
19:46 How AI is changing space warfare
21:55 Intercepting missiles and roles in the Iran War
26:26 Jamming satellites and satellite imagery
30:29 Training Guardians and what’s next

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