One of America’s top military officers says U.S. forces must prepare for combat beyond Earth’s orbit, including the vast region stretching to the moon. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told military personnel and defense companies that the armed forces must be able to fight, endure and win from the seabed to cislunar space. That term covers the territory between Earth and the Moon, including the lunar surface.

Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, who leads the Space Force’s Combat Forces Command, said human activity deeper in space requires the military to defend American interests. Intelligence officials believe adversaries are seeking ways to extend warfare beyond Earth.

The warning follows the Pentagon’s public acknowledgment that the United States has deployed space-control weapons in orbit, although officials have not disclosed what those systems can do. The Space Force is also preparing for major growth, with plans to roughly double its personnel to about 25,000 service members during the next five years. China has criticized the American expansion while developing comparable capabilities.

The moon is becoming more than a destination for exploration, as governments and companies prepare missions involving communications, navigation, research, and access to resources. Whoever controls the routes and information systems could gain a military advantage.

China is central to the Pentagon’s concern since Beijing has expanded its military space organization, demonstrated satellite-moving technology, and pursued a lunar program. If U.S. forces stay near Earth while China advances farther away, America could struggle to monitor or protect operations.

Preparing for a potential cislunar conflict does not necessarily mean placing troops on the moon, at least not yet. Much of the preparation and defenses will likely include satellites and sensors to protect spacecraft and maintain communications where sensors provide limited coverage.

The Pentagon will need to walk a fine line in building these defenses without starting a race that makes conflict more likely. Planning can deter an attack, but secret weapons and undefined limits may encourage rivals to prepare for the worst.

Lunar defense systems will not be cheap, as they add an entirely new front to defend. China has shown no signs of slowing down its own orbital military capabilities, so the push is only likely to intensify. Aerospace states could gain contracts as the military expands its reach. For example, Colorado has the engineers and manufacturers needed to build sensors, spacecraft, and secure communications. Such work could also produce new technology, as often happens in these situations.

American readiness near the moon could protect civilian missions and prevent China from setting the terms for a future space economy. This will become more significant should increased lunar activity begin to support new communications services, manufacturing, or access to valuable resources.

While those industries may still be years away, the rules and infrastructure are being shaped now. Taxpayers should expect military spending to secure an open environment where American companies and researchers can compete. The payoff would not be planting more flags, but ensuring that the next major arena of economic growth remains accessible to the people financing its defense.