US military confirms it deployed space weapons in orbit for first time
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has for the first time publicly acknowledged that the military has deployed weapons in orbit capable of defending forces against hostile action in space, without disclosing details.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who oversees both the Air Force and Space Force, said in a speech on Monday that the military has deployed "on-orbit space control weapons" capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action — the first public acknowledgment of such a deployment.
Meink did not specify what the weapons are, how they function, or how many have been placed in orbit. His wording was reportedly deliberate and carefully chosen. An Air Force spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, including questions about what specific threats prompted the deployment.
Context
The disclosure comes amid long-standing suspicions that China operates spacecraft capable of damaging other satellites. Separately, the US Space Force has said Russia is currently developing a satellite "designed to carry a nuclear weapon."
According to The Times, the United States had previously disavowed destroying satellites in orbit, since such actions can generate debris that endangers other space objects and astronauts.
The acknowledgment marks a shift in transparency, as Washington had not previously confirmed publicly that it possessed this category of weaponry in orbit, even as concerns about rival nations' capabilities in space have grown.
