The head of U.S. space operations, General Douglas Schiess, has confirmed that the U.S. Space Force—known as the "Guardians"—is already employing orbital weapons to defend against attacks in space. Speaking with Space.com, Schiess emphasized that these weapons are being used to enable joint defense operations in space. He described space as both a battlefield and a critical component of the U.S. nuclear infrastructure. The Guardians are members of the U.S. Space Force, which was created in December 2020 under then-Vice President Mike Pence. The Space Force was originally proposed in 2019 by former President Donald Trump, who saw the need for the U.S. to prepare for potential conflicts in space, a domain that had long been considered a neutral zone. Schiess did not provide detailed explanations of the weapons but gave an example of a hypothetical operator named "Specialist Gray," who would be responsible for defending against threats in space. He described how Specialist Gray could "hold the defensive line" during a missile attack, protecting U.S. forces and disabling enemy capabilities. These orbital weapons are said to be able to "lock on" to targets and use advanced technology to conduct "electromagnetic warfare." This could involve using devices like jammers or microwave emitters to disable missiles in flight. All such actions would be controlled from Earth by a human operator. The recent statements come amid growing budget requests for the U.S. Space Force. The agency is currently seeking a 71 billion dollar increase for the 2027 fiscal year compared to 2026. Since its creation six years ago, the Space Force has already cost over 100 billion dollars. If the requested budget increase is approved, the Space Force would become the most expensive branch of the U.S. military since the Department of Defense was established in 1952. The funding is intended to support the development and deployment of advanced space capabilities, including the orbital weapons Schiess referenced. The U.S. Space Force's growing role and budget reflect increasing concerns about space security. As more nations and private companies expand their presence in space, the potential for conflict has risen. The use of orbital weapons, while not new in theory, marks a significant shift in how space is viewed and defended. The U.S. is not the only country investing in space capabilities, and the implications of such developments could shape international relations and the future of space exploration.